Reviewer's Choice

Elemental Love Styles: Find Compatibility and Create a Lasting Relationship provides a fine
guide to self-discovery and includes many important keys to locating a life partner based on
individual love styles. A quiz and examples help identify individual styles of loving and show
how enduring relationships can be created.

The Story of Stuff
Annie Leonard
Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439125663, $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

THE STORY OF STUFF: HOW OUR OBSESSION WITH STUFF IS TRASHING THE
PLANET, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR HEALTH - AND A VISION FOR CHANGE
examines all the things we use daily and its hidden costs to our health and the lives of millions
around the world who work in unhealthy situations to create it. If we don't change our extraction
and production systems - we will kill the planet: this is the contention of a fine survey suitable
for any general lending library.

THRIVING AFTER DIVORCE: TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE WHEN A RELATIONSHIP
ENDS is for any facing a new life after divorce. It comes from a relationship coach who says
divorce's potential for overall change reaches from daily habits into personal identity - and her
book offers keys to tapping this energy. Readers are guided through emotional meltdown to
stability and positive perspective in this top recommendation for any general lending library.

500 Gemstone Jewels provides a fine jewelry survey perfect for libraries strong in jewelry and
crafts, offering insights and designs by some of today's top designers. Close-up color photos of
gemstones used in a range of settings showcase both gems and designs, making for a lush
presentation perfect for any crafts and arts collection. The wealth of color photos and discussions
of stones and settings is outstanding.

Wacky Packages New New New
Topps Company Inc.
Abrams
115 West 18th St., New York NY 10011
9780810988385, $19.95 www.abramscomicarts.com

Wacky Packages New New New is a follow-up to the popular WACKY PACKAGES first
published by Abrams in 2008, and provides all 206 rare Wacky Packs from series 8 through 14,
years 1974 and 1975. Fun parodies of common household brands appear in full color spoofing
consumer products and marketing, and comes packaged with four limited edition stickers and a
wax jacket, making for a fine collector's reference.

Any college-level collection strong in architecture and engineering will find DAMS a key
acquisition. It organizes a range of projects by watershed, profiling over 800 historical and
modern photos and providing not only a wide range of visuals from ads, drawings, and photos,
but also surveying the structural diversity of dams and their changing role in American society.
Designers and students will find this a powerful history with an accompanying CD-ROM
offering downloadable TIFF files of all illustrations.

What is not generally known is that Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was the first applicant to receive a
commercial broadcast television license from the Federal Communications Commission in 1938.
It was Milwaukee television that had the first female program direct and the firms female news
director in a major television market. Milwaukee was also the city in which the VHF vs UHF
controversy broke out in the 1950s. Milwaukee was also a pivotal site for the development of an
educational TV station (WMVS-TV) and the first to regularly telecast in color. It was
Milwaukee's own WMVT that was chosen as the site of the first long-distance test of a digital
over-the-air signal in a technological evolution that was to ultimate replace analog television with
digital television throughout the country. "Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years" is a
profusely illustrated 510-page compendium that showcases the complete and definitive history of
Milwaukee's contributions to the television industry and culture. Of special note is the chapter
dedicated to 'Low-Power, Class-A and Translator Stations'. Enhanced with a profusion of
anecdotal stories and quotations from on-air talent, engineers, and station managers, "Milwaukee
Television History: The Analog Years" is a unique and core addition to both academic and
community library collections, as well as a recommended reading for anyone with an interest in
Milwaukee history in general, and the history of American television broadcasting in
particular.

Everyone wants to make games, but few remember that the fundamentals are the first step.
"Fundamentals of Game Development" is a guide to the major concepts of game design, the
building blocks in which all games are constructed and made. Designed so that readers with no
previous experience can understand, the book focuses on the concepts rather than the code, and
covers everything from the pitch of the game to voiceover work and localization. "Fundamentals
of Game Development" is a must for anyone who wants to get into or understand the field of
making video games.

Foreclosure is something many people live in constant fear of. "The Complete Guide to Preventing Foreclosure on Your Home: Legal Secrets to Beat Foreclosure and Protect Your Home Now" is a guide for these unfortunate individuals who want to fight the banks and do the best they can to not lose their home. Martha Maeda & Maurcia DeLean Houck provide much insight in how readers can use the law to stave off foreclosure and buy themselves as much time as possible. "The Complete Guide to Preventing Foreclosure on your Home" is a choice pick that everyone with foreclosure looming ahead should have on hand.

The Library Science Shelf

There are some things that all libraries should have. "Developing an Outstanding Core
Collection" is a guide for defining what are the must haves for your library and defining what is
significant enough to warrant it. In an updated second edition, Carol Alabaster gives librarians
tips and advice on what they need to know to decide what has to be bought now and what can
wait for a later time. With chapters on defining what is core, updating what needs to be
considered core, and enhanced with plenty of references and citations, "Developing an
Outstanding Core Collection" is a reference every librarian should have on hand.

The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Marcia Meier draws upon her many years of experience and expertise as a journalist, published
author, skilled poet, educator, and former director of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in
"Navigating the Rough Waters of Today's Publishing World: Critical Advice for Writers from
Industry Insiders", a 130-page compendium of practical, 'real-world' advice, insight, commentary,
and instruction for writers seeking publication in today's increasingly volatile, rapidly evolving,
and fiercely competitive publishing industry. Drawing upon her contacts in the publishing world,
aspiring authors will benefit from the observations of 'The Writer' magazine publisher Elfrieda
Abbe, literary agents Paul Fedorko and Jeff Herman, 'RedRoom.com founder Ivory Madison, and
self-publishing icon Dan Poynter. Of special note are the chapters devoted to the issues of
self-publishing, freelancing writing, websites and blogging, and the new social media tools of
Facebook, MySpace, and Tweeting. Enhanced with a glossary, bibliographies on the craft of
writing, book marketing, a resource listing of writer conferences and retreats, as well as web sites
of specific value for writers, "Navigating the Rough Waters of Today's Publishing World:
Critical Advice for Writers from Industry Insiders" should be considered mandatory reading for
anyone and all aspiring authors seeking to become successful professionals.

The advent of desktop computer word processing software meant that anyone who could type
could create a manuscript for whatever their version of 'The Great American Novel' or
non-fiction block buster might be. Next came converting that manuscript into a published book --
long the nearly exclusive province of traditional publishers, technological progress in the form of
'publish on demand' or 'POD' publishers came into existence to meet the demand of
self-publishing authors who lacked the expertise to accomplish this task but who could simply
write a check to someone who could. The trick was how to make a financial profit on that capital
investment. "POD for Profit" is clearly written and very nicely organized instructional guide from
Aaron Shepard wherein he uses his own experience and expertise in the field to help others learn
how to print and publish their own material through print on demand organizations, and not only
get their material out there, but prove it to be a profitable move. "POD for Profit" is a choice and
very highly recommended read for anyone considering printing on demand as their publishing
option.

The Library DVD Shelf

The profound new musical "Imagine This" (115 min.) is now available on DVD, and its
soundtrack is available on CD. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto of Poland in the bleak year 1942,
"Imagine This" follows a group of actors who seek to keep the dream of resistance and hope alive
by performing the epic tale of "Masada", an ancient Judean mountain where a small band of
rebels dared to hold back 10,000 Roman soldiers. The DVD of "Imagine This" records a
memorable live performance from London's West End; special features include bonus songs
"Salome's Lament" and "No More", printable educational materials, and a 35-minute panel
discussion including cast members, the show's director, and Holocaust scholar Thane
Rosenbaum. The CD of "Imagine This" contains virtually the entire soundtrack, vividly
performed. Both are excellently performed, and deserve inclusion in the libraries of anyone who
enjoys the power of a profound and serious musical. Also highly recommended from PBS are the
documentaries "My Lai" (9781608832101, $24.99, 90 min.) and "Art & Copy" (9781608832255,
$24.99).

Two new episodes of the award-winning science documentary "NOVA", originally broadcast on
public television, are now available on DVD. "The Pluto Files" (9781608832040, $24.99, 56
min.) is based on Neil deGrasse Tyson's book of the same name, and features a commentary from
Tyson himself. "The Pluto Files" explains the controversy about Pluto, and why the American
Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium ceased to call Pluto a planet. Yet the concept
of Pluto as a planet has captured so many hearts and minds - why is Pluto so cherished in the
public's imagination? Could more Pluto-like celestial bodies exist within the Kuiper belt?
"Extreme Cave Diving" (9781608832019, $24.99, 56 min.) features Dr. Kenny Broad as a guide
to underwater caves that formed during the last ice age. With the aid of climatologists,
paleontologists, and anthropologists, Broad guides the viewer in an extraordinary tour of some of
the most remote, mysterious, and little-explored places left upon the earth. Both DVDs are
superb additions to any school or public library collections, and enthusiastically recommended
for their fascinating presentation as well as for their educational value.

Handcrafts expert Peggy Flores presents two more instructional DVD titles designed to teach
viewers of all skill and experience levels how to make beautiful objects. "Creating Fiber
Weavings and Baskets" (9781562906528, $29.95) reveals how to make yarn weavings with
nothing more elaborate than a cardboard or coat hanger loom. Step-by-step demonstrations of the
basic weaving process, as well as how coiling rope wrapped with yarn can shape practical
baskets, make "Creating Fiber Weavings and Baskets" amazingly easy to follow, given the
elaborate, colorful, and practical finished products. "Wire Sculpture" (9781562906542, $29.95)
instructs viewers in the elements of line, space, and shape as well as the use of tools to cut and
bend wire, when creating three-dimensional wire art. Demonstrations and examples abound in
this amazing guideline to superlatively blending one's skill and creativity. Both DVDs are
excellent additions to any art classroom's library, and choice picks for budding artists seeking to
experiment in a variety of media.

An award-winning documentary on DVD from the producers of "Who Killed the Electric Car?",
Tapped explores the dark side of the bottled water industry. Human beings need clean drinking
water to live. It is legal in some states for gigantic bottled water companies to suck public tap
water sources dry (even when shortages force residents to ration water) then repackage and resell
it at a gigantic markup - with infinitely less regulatory oversight than there is for tap water (and
bottled water sold in the same state as it is pumped is virtually unregulated) - but is it ethical? Is
the plastic used to create the water bottles truly safe for humans to put in their mouths? Perhaps
worst of all is America's catastrophic overall failure to recycle plastic water bottles, resulting in
an avalanche of non-biodegradable waste being pitched into landfills, or even straight into the
ocean, where plastic bottles form a large part of a floating ocean garbage mound hundreds of
square miles large. The bottle deposit laws of some states have been a proven, highly effective
method to promote recycling - but because it incurs a minor expense the enormously profitable
bottled water industry (an expense otherwise borne by everyone who has to cope with improperly
disposed plastic bottle), corporations fight such legislative measures tooth and nail. Corporate
control over public water supply, and corporate refusal to help shoulder the burden of recycling
the mounds of plastic trash that are the byproducts of its profit, can only be combated by political
activism - ordinary citizens getting involved and laying claim to their water rights, as well as
their rights to a clean environment. A must-see, highly recommended documentary guaranteed to
make viewers think twice before paying through the nose for what is essentially bottled (and
smartly advertised) tap water. 75 and 54 minute versions of Tapped are available on the same
DVD. Two more highly recommended documentaries from Bullfrog Films are Megamall
(159458916X, $295.00) and Dirt! The Movie (1594589402, $295.00).

Liberty Fund presents two excellent DVD additions to their "Intellectual Potrait Series". "A
Conversation with Forrest McDonald" (9780865978225, $22.00) presents the candid words of an
expert historian known for his writings on the American founding period, including "We The
People: The Economic Origins of the Constitution", which challenged the long-held theory
proposed by Charles A. Beard. Forrest McDonald speaks on his perception of the American
republic, the role of the Presidency, the current state of the Bill of Rights, how economics,
politics and history continue to interleave with one another today, and much more. "A
Conversation with Steve Pejovich" (9780865978218, $22.00) presents the expert and widely
published economics professor, author of numerous books including "Economics Performance:
The Case for Common Law". Pejovich talks about his life, shaped in the beginning by struggling
to survive under the Nazis, and then the Communists, and how moving to and living in the
United States transformed how he saw the world. The values of "life, liberty, and happiness", and
the interplay of economic freedom, cultural vibrancy, and quality of life, are all topics of
discussion in this superb profile. Both are insightful, scholarly, and worthy additions to public
and college library DVD collections.

Touching Evil: The Complete Collection gathers the award-winning British drama following the
Organized and Serial Crime unit. As Detective Inspector Dave Creegan recuperates from a
gunshot wound to the head, his personal life is in tatters, but he retains genius-level insight into
the workings of the criminal mind. He becomes a crucial member of a highly skilled team of
detectives that dedicate themselves to tracking and stopping the deadliest serial killers,
psychopaths, and pedophiles of Britain. The Organized and Serial Crime unit relies on advanced
police techniques, while Creegan prefers to fall back upon his instincts; together they will need
every tool at their disposal to fight worst depredations of monsters in human flesh. Featuring a
top-quality cast and gripping writing, Touching Evil is strongly recommended for fans of crime
drama. It should be noted that Touching Evil contains violence, nudity, and disturbing images;
this is not a DVD collection for the faint of heart. 8 episodes on 5 discs, 13 hours, 4:3 full screen,
SDH subtitles.

The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz is a documentary originally shown on the Smithsonian
Channel, about the daring escape of three convicted bank robbers from the infamous Alcatraz
prison on June 11, 1962. When they were discovered to be missing, a massive attempt was
launched to track them down, to no avail. Did they find freedom? Or did they lose their lives in
an ultimately doomed attempt to flee their isolated prison? The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz
lives up to its title through interviews with people ranging from Darwin Coon, the inmate who
assisted the escapees, to the wardens who realized they were missing, to the FBI agents assigned
to track them down. Exciting and dramatic, The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz is a worthy
addition to public library DVD shelves. PG, 47 min. Also highly recommended from
Smithsonian Networks is the DVD "Soul of a People: Writing America's Story" ($19.98, PG, 92
min.)

You Really Got Me: The Story of The Kinks is a rousing DVD collection of footage from The
Kinks, one of few British bands that has been commercially successful in America. Covering the
band's career from the sixties to the nineties, You Really Got Me includes highlights from the
band's greatest moments on stage; their most beloved songs; and comments from band members
including Ray Davies, Dave Davies, and Mick Avory. "You Really Got Me" deserves the highest
recommendation to fellow music lovers from all walks of life. 87 minutes, colour and black &
white.

World Class HiRail Layouts Part One is a DVD tour of the latest trend in O gauge layout
building, focusing on three of the finest model railroads currently available to be seen. First is the
largest model train exhibit in America, the New Jersey Hi-Railers' 185 X 45-foot layout
operating 38 trains against museum quality scenery. Then it's off to the Train Masters of
Babylon, including 3,000 square-feet of mainlines, subways, sidings and ten-foot trestle bridge
painstakingly made to perfectly mimic an engineering landmark. Finally the viewer sees the
Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers' layout, which spans 28 square miles of track and showcases
engines with diesel and steam power. This extraordinary tour of model railroads lovingly crafted
with impeccable detail is sure to provide devoted hobbyists with catalysts of inspiration. World
Class HiRail Layouts Part One lives up to its title as a thoroughly enjoyable treasury, highly
recommended for model railroad enthusiasts. 60 minutes.

Certified personal fitness trainer Debbie Dawson presents Do It Yourself Natural FaceLift With
Debbie Dawson, a simple guide to improving the appearance of one's face and neck without
resorting to expensive (and hazardous!) plastic surgery. The muscles of the face and neck can be
exercised like any other part of the body, becoming firmer and more toned, promoting blood flow
and collagen production. Do It Yourself Natural FaceLift is not only for those who wish to avoid
a facelift, but also for those who have had one before and are struggling with ill effects, as well
as those who are coping with Bell's Palsy. An easy-to-use instructional, with benefits that can
quickly be felt in return for practicing its exercises for as little as twenty minutes a day - no
injections, fillers, weights, glovers, or other gimmicks involved!

Raffles: The Complete Collection is the four-disc DVD set collecting the entire television
adaptation of the roguish adventures of Raffles (a character originally created by E.W. Hornung,
brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). By day, A.J. Raffles (played by Anthony Valentine)
is a championship cricketer and gentleman of leisure; but when he isn't in the public eye, he
pursues is other passion - surreptitiously plundering the fortunes of the wealthy! In addition to his
extraordinary expertise with accents and disguises, Raffles also has the assistance of his easily
perplexed friend "Bunny" Manders (played by Christopher Strauli). Their weaving through
oft-deadly predicaments between a rock, a hard place, and the persistently hostile efforts of
Inspector Mackenzie (played by Victor Carin) makes for a grand adventure. Raffles consists of
fourteen episodes, including the never-before-released pilot episode, as well as a biography of
author E.W. Hornung and production notes. An absolute treat for anyone who loves British
drama! 4 DVDs, 726 min., 4:3 full screen, color. Also highly recommended for fans of British
drama is the PBS series "Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill" (9781598284140, $49.99, 361 min.)
an award-winning miniseries about the life of an extraordinary American woman and her
contribution to history.

Forever Young is a nutrition, exercise, and general wellness guide for viewers over 50 who seek
to keep themselves in optimal physical condition. John Humble, an expert personal trainer of 35
years' experience, presents a "Fountain of Youth" prescription for healthy living to combat
common ailments among those over 50. Medical advice from guest experts enhance the four-step
program, based around the key of "It is not about you" - that it's important stay healthy not only
for one's own sake, but also for the sake of friends, family, and loved ones. The four keystones to
better health and better living are resistance training (not bodybuilding, but a form of exercise
that can be easily performed with low cost resistance bands), cardio training, good nutrition
(especially lean meat, vegetables, fruits and nuts), and one thing more (the viewer is asked to
take in the beginning of the DVD and the first three elements before learning about and focusing
on the fourth). An excellent guide to staying young in body as well as young at heart, Forever
Young lives up to its title and is a highly recommended addition to DVD wellness libraries. 70
minutes.

Marty Schupak, an expert in Physical Education and a youth sports coach of 21 years' experience,
presents Offensive Basketball Moves, an instructional DVD for basketball players of all ages.
Step-by-step instructions reveal how to teach and practice a wide variety of basketball moves,
including the jab step, shot fakes, power dribble, hesitation move, form shooting, fade away
shooting, pivot moves, shoulder shimmy, and much more. A superb teaching and reference guide
ideal for enhancing skills, whether for coaching a youth league or even self-improvement in
private basketball games one plays for fun, Offensive Basketball Moves deserves the highest
recommendation for its quality presentation and ease of use. 34 minutes.

Schlessinger's "Holidays for Children" ($29.95 each) DVD series spotlights special days of the
year set aside to remember, honor, and celebrate. These installments, suitable for young people in
grades K-4, are part of an educational 26-volume set ideal for classroom viewing. "Columbus
Day" (9781417109432, 12 min.) reminds viewers of the extraordinary contributions of
Christopher Columbus to European science, knowledge, and prosperity - as well as the
tremendous toll his expeditions took upon the native peoples living within the landmass he
discovered. Offering a balanced viewpoint, including reflections from a descendant of the Taino
(one of the first native people whom Columbus encountered), "Columbus Day" is an invaluable
and educational resource that encourages viewers to think for themselves rather than blindly
accept positive or negative propaganda about this holiday. "Constitution Day" (9781417109449,
12 min.) emphasizes the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, and even includes a
field trip to the National Constitution Center. "Earth Day" (9781417109456, 12 min.) not only
traces the history of Earth Day since its inception in 1970 as the idea of U.S. Senator Gaylord
Nelson, but also encourages its celebration through recycling, composting, planting trees, and
doing whatever one can do to conserve energy and natural resources. "The 100th Day of School"
(9781417109425, 12 min.) encourages young people to think about the number 100 - from
counting to 100 to pondering how drastically society has changed in the last 100 years, to what
can be accomplished in 100 seconds, to imagining what one might buy with $100. The result is a
bright and cheerful way to commemorate progress through the school year. All four DVDs are
closed captioned and sold with limited public performance rights to be shown to any group in a
school, public library, prison or military base without further written permission.

Part of the "American Experience" PBS DVD series, Roads to Memphis: The Assassination of
Martin Luther King, Jr. is a compelling documentary on DVD from Emmy Award-winning
director Stephen Ives. Portraying the setting, historical events, and societal forces in motion up to
the fateful day when James Earl Ray killed the widely beloved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Road
to Memphis features testimony from people close to King as well as the officials who took part in
Ray's capture and prosecution, and a guest appearance by Hampton sides, the award-winning
author of a forthcoming book about the assassination ("Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of
martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin"). An extraordinarily vivid
saga of true-life bloodshed and its repercussions, Roads to Memphis is powerful, unforgettable,
and a choice pick for public library DVD collections. 90 minutes, widescreen, closed captioned.
Also highly recommended is the award-winning PBS DVD presenting the next chapter of
history, "A Ripple of Hope" (9781608832064, $24.99, 60 min., widescreen, closed captioned)
chronicling the inspirational speech presidential candidate Robert Kennedy's subsequently dared
to deliver to inner city Indianapolis despite the very real threat of violence, for riots and arson
scarred America in the wake of King's murder.

The American History Shelf

A KINGDOM STRANGE: THE BRIEF AND TRAGIC HISTORY OF THE LOST COLONY
OF ROANOKE comes from a historian who reconstructs the complete story of the lost colonists
and offers new theories on why they left England for America. New original material on the
social backgrounds of the colonists provides keys on their religion and a new perspective on what
happened.

The collaborative effort of Richard E. Bennett, Susan Easton Black, and Donald Q. Cannon, The
Nauvoo Legion in Illinois: A History of the Mormon Militia 1841-1846 is a solid study of the
Nauvoo Legion - a city militia assembled by America's Mormon population in response to
experiencing persecution, violence, and forcible expulsion. One of the largest and most feared of
America's militias of the era, The Nauvoo Legion was effectively led by Mormon prophet Joseph
Smith - and its power caused concern among non-Mormons, culminating in the killing of Smith
and his brother. The Nauvoo's charter was revoked, yet it was re-constituted after the Mormon
migration to Utah. A superbly researched and presented account, The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois
draws upon recently discovered archival material to paint an accurate historical picture of the
citizen soldiers who served and the undertakings of their militia. An invaluable contribution to
American and to Mormon history shelves, The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois is the definitive
resource of the origins, undertakings, and perceptions of the Nauvoo Legion and highly
recommended especially for college library shelves.

Uptown Downtown in Old Charleston: Sketches and Stories is a collection that draws upon the
author's personal experience in his native Charleston along with a vivid dose of imaginative
insight and storytelling gifts. The result is a wonderfully picturesque narrative anthology that
brings the Charleston of yesteryear to life. A blissfully evocative anthology of short stories,
Uptown Downtown in Old Charleston flows smoothly, and renders its characters with warmth
and heart as they go about their daily lives. Highly recommended.

In the past fifty years America has went from not even allowing black people in certain
restaurants to electing the first black President. "Hope and History: Why We Must Share the
Story of the Movement" tells the story of the civil rights movement of the past half century told
through the eyes of Professor Vincent Harding, a man who has worked much with studying the
movement. A great stride, Harding does well in painting the picture of a rapidly changing world.
"Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement" is a choice addition to any
history of black studies collection.

Professor of History Bonnie Stepenoff The Dead End Kids of St. Louis: Homeless Boys and the
People Who Tried to Save Them" is a historical study of the "lost" boys and young men who
eked out a living on the streets of St. Louis from the late nineteenth century to the mid twentieth
century. In that era, for a homeless young man, violence was a serious threat - loosely organized
bands of youths were known to wander about the tenement districts and cause trouble.
Sometimes gangs of boys took shelter in the system of caves beneath the city for weeks or
months. A handful of black-and-white photographs enhance this accounting of how difficult it
was to survive and mature under such circumstances - though the majority of these "lost boys"
ultimately grew up to live more or less normal lives, sometimes their childhood experiences left
them with permanent emotional scars. Chapters also cover the efforts of private philanthropy as
well as public policy to aid these boys; some measures were effective, some did little good, and
some were even counterproductive. A fascinating portrayal of a serious social issue in St. Louis'
history, carefully researched and studiously presented, The Dead End Kids of St. Louis is an
excellent addition to college library American History and Social Issues shelves.

Texas and Texans in the Great War
Ralph A. Wooster
State House Press
PO Box 818, Buffalo Gap, TX 79508
9781933337371 $24.95 www.mcwhiney.org/press

Military historian Ralph A. Wooster presents Texas and Texans in the Great War, a scholarly
accounting of the contribution Texans made during World War I. 200,000 Texans served in the
American armed forces, and more than 5,000 Texans in uniform perished during the course of
the war. Texas and Texans in the Great War covers not only the efforts of Texan soldiers, but life
on the Texan home front, the influence Texans had on France (and that France had on Texans),
and the repercussions of victory and peace. A handful of black-and-white photographs and
diagrams illustrate this excellent addition to Texas military history shelves.

The Red Corner: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Northeastern Montana is the true story of
how Sheridan County of Montana became a successful, virtually Communist community during
the 1920s and early 1930s. Sheridan County used to have a government run primarily by
Communists, a Communist youth camp, and an official newspaper of the American Communist
Party, the "Producers News". Communist influence declined in the 30's, and in time residents
came to view Sheridan County's Communist days as a mark of shame. Author and professor
Verlaine Stoner McDonald reconstitutes history from newspaper accounts, oral testimonies, FBI
reports, and internal Communist Party files in The Red Corner, creating a thoroughly accessible
encapsulation of the Sheridan County Communist movement's evolution, effects, and legacy. The
result is an excellent addition to college library and Montana history shelves.

Historian Ruth Doumlele presents The Randolph Women & Their Men, an exceptional, expertly
researched portrait of the upper class elite of the post-Revolution American South. Though
particular focus is given to the Randolphs, the elite, influential leaders with whom they interacted
- including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison - are also observed here, with
strict attention paid to historical records. The Randolph Women & Their Men offers a uniquely
up-close and personal glimpse into the daily lives of America's wealthy aristocracy of the past -
including their scandals of incest, betrayal, and love that was not returned. Organized
chronologically by year and broken into brief segments that peer into events surrounding the cast
of real-life Americans, The Randolph Women & Their Men is further supplemented by end
notes, a bibliography, and an index for ease of use. An enjoyable read for pleasure as well as for
study into how America's upper crust used to live their daily lives, The Randolph Women &
Their Men is highly recommended.

With Musket & Tomahawk: The Saratoga Campaign and the Wilderness War of 1777 is an
in-depth, military analysis of a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War. In 1777
British leaders devised a three-pronged assault intended to separate New England from the rest of
the fledgling, would-be nation of America, along the divider of the Hudson River. The results
would have been devastating had England's forces succeeded; yet the offensive campaign med
severe resistance from rifleman who knew the wild, heavily wooded land and rallied to defend
their nation. A handful of black-and-white maps and diagrams accompany the detailed text, in
this enthralling study that brings military history to life for readers of all backgrounds. Highly
recommended, especially for college libraries and military history shelves.

Footsteps in Africa Soundtrack: Nomadic Remix is the re-imagined CD soundtrack of the
feature-length documentary film "Footsteps in Africa", about the culture and life of the Tuareg
desert communities of Africa. Footsteps in Africa Soundtrack: Nomadic Remix is instrumental
save for the blended vocalizations of throat singer Benno Klandt, who gives voice to the hidden
intensity of the desert. A profound reflection of the bonds of community, and the stringent
demands of desert life, Footsteps in Africa Soundtrack: Nomadic Remix also gives back to the
very people whose culture made it possible: fifteen percent of all profits from the remixed album
will be channeled to support clean water projects. An extraordinary contribution to international
music collections, highly recommended. The tracks are "Mariama" (5:41), "Tea Dimm's New
Brew" (5:39), "Mariama" (5:22), "Red Ladies Tent Jam" (6:35), "Tuareg Goosi Jam in Tent"
(7:34), "Open" (4:38), "Hyena the PsyAmazigh Remix" (4:50), "Ahheahedon Tuareg Women's
Jam" (4:54), "Tuareg Goosi Jam in Tent" (5::34), "Ahheahedon Tuareg Women's Jam" (3:28),
and "End Titles" (3:27).

Business Class Refugees is an instrumental "electro-folk" album from the Israeli duo of Kartick
and Gotam. Some songs are grounded in traditional melodies, scales, and beats of India, yet all of
them are blended with original flair. The theme of the album's title refers to the musician's
experience when one day, in a Singapore airport, they were stranded without a visa or a flight to
board - associating with those who had little, or were wrenched from their roots, the two
continued work on their music from their laptops and over wireless connections regardless.
Business Class Refugees is a celebration of using modern technological and musical flair to
resurrect and transform ancient classics for the latest generation. An emotionally moving album
that pays tribute to desert cultures of the past, present, and future, Business Class Refugees is
highly recommended. The tracks are "Bonjour" (4:46), "Tamil Bossa" (5:10), "Boye Boye"
(5:18), "Heer" (4:13), "Shiva Sheva" (6:26), "Door Open Door" (5:46), "Vellai Thaamarai"
(3:37), "Supreme Chaos" (4:35), "Rututu" (4:19), and "Hear Comes the Funk" (5:50).

La Difference is the latest album by Afro-pop singer Salif Keita. The albino son of two black
African parents, Keita is in a unique position to appreciate and vigorously spread the virtues of
tolerance and the value of celebrating differences. Shunned for his albinism in his native Mali
while growing up, he traveled abroad to the Ivory Coast, Paris, London, and New York to
advance his talent for composing and performing music, at last successfully returning to Mali as
an accomplished and internationally known music artist. La Difference is particularly dedicated
to fellow albinos in Africa, who must struggle to survive and fulfill their dreams amid severe
cultural prejudice; other themes emerge as well, such as a cautionary warning about the
ecological harm humanity is wreaking on Africa in the song "Ekolo d'Amour". To fulfill the
primary purpose of La Difference, Keita has pledged that all profits from this album will fund his
foundation to help albino Africans, "Salif Keita pour les Albinos". An extraordinary, rhythmic
blend of traditional and modern cultures expressed in soul-stirring music, La Difference is highly
recommended.

The Philadelphia Report is the audiobook presentation of Philadelphia Investigating Grand Jury's
2005 report concerning the Catholic clergy's sexual abuse of minors in the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia. The investigation, led by District Attorney Lynne Abraham, stretched over four
years and involved scrutiny of over 60 abusing priests as well as church cover-ups that spanned
decades. Narrated by a group of voice professionals, and featuring a foreword by report co-author
and professor of law Marci A. Hamilton, The Philadelphia Report is disturbing because it is true
- and because it reveals a tremendous wrong saturated in the fabric of modern American society.
The Philadelphia Report is available in three versions: an unabridged one on two MP3 CDs (with
an accompanying CD of .pdf documents), an abridged audio CD version, and an unabridged
audio CD version. A "must-have" for college libraries with a focus on criminal law and
justice.

The Philosophy Shelf

Exuberant Skepticism comes from a philosopher who for three decades has been an advocate of
skepticism as a philosophical position and way of life. Skepticism is defined as a form of
philosophical inquiry that can change the world - and here John Shook has gathered 17 of Paul
Kurtz's essays to consider scientific inquiry and methods. A fine survey of the skeptical
movement that Kurtz founded, this is a 'must' for any philosophy library.

Zombies, Vampires, and Philosophy: New Life for the Undead links popular culture and
philosophy with a philosophical discussion of vampires and zombies. The connection lies in how
they confront us with moral and metaphysical issues of life and death, and this provides over
twenty modern thinkers who reflect on the idea and nature of the undead. Any library seeking to
blend modern philosophy with popular fantasy needs this.

Volume XXXII in "The Library of Living Philosophers" series, The Philosophy of Richard Rorty
is an outstanding compendium consisting of 29 critical essays by analytical philosopher Richard
Rorty, as well as his intellectual autobiography, his replies to those who critique him, and a Rorty
bibliography. From sharp criticism of the weaknesses of conventional methods of philosophy
(especially the excess of preoccupation with questions of the foundation and representation of
knowledge), to the invaluable role of pragmatism in everything from surveying language to as an
invaluable tool to perpetuate democracy, and much more, The Philosophy of Richard Rorty is a
welcome contribution to ongoing intellectual debate. The Philosophy of Richard Rorty is solidly
organized and presented, a superb addition to philosophy shelves and a welcome contribution to
college libraries.

Segregation was the rule of the Union and Confederate forces, but rules were not always
followed. "Forgotten Black Soldiers Who Served in White Regiments During the Civil War" is
author Juanita Patience Moss's investigation of these soldiers who served in white regiments
going against the standard policy. Moss also discusses southern white people who fought for the
Union in spite of being in Confederate lands. "Forgotten Black Soldiers" is a choice pick for any
military history collection with a focus on the civil war.

Daniel L. Schafer (distinguished Professor Emeritus of History, University of North Florida)
presents Thunder on the River: The Civil War in Northeast Florida, a well-researched and solidly
presented accounting of how the American Civil War impacted Florida. From the forces that
pushed Florida to battle on behalf of the South (including widespread of the black population
among Florida's whites), to the three times Union forces claimed Jacksonville and then
abandoned it - followed by a fourth attempt in which Jacksonville was used to stage an
ill-advised Union invasion of interior Florida - to the use of underwater mines against the U.S.
Navy along the St. Johns, Thunder on the River vividly captures the turbulent events of history.
Accessible to lay readers and historians alike, Thunder on the River is a superb addition to
American Civil War collections and college library reference shelves.

Award-winning journalist and author Lance J. Herdegen presents Those Damned Black Hats! The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign, the first book-length historical accounting of the Iron Brigade (an all-Western outfit that served the Union entirely in the Eastern Theater during the American Civil War) during the summer of 1863, particularly the "four long hours" of Gettysburg that all but destroyed them. The Iron Brigade, distinguished by their unique black Hardee Hats from Brawner's Farm, came to be known as "those damned Black Hats" by their opponents. Illustrated with a handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, Those Damned Black Hats! is in-depth, meticulously researched and solidly presented, and an exceptional contribution to Civil War studies shelves. The Army Historical Foundation met for its Twelfth Annual Members Meeting on June 14th, 2009, at Mount Vernon, the estate of George Washington, and bestowed the The Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award for Operational / Battle History, 2008 upon Those Damned Black Hats!

The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 Volume 1: South Mountain presents the historical
manuscript originally assembled by Ezra A. Carman, once a colonel of the 13th New Jersey
Infantry during the American Civil War, and later appointed as the "Historical Expert" to the
Antietam Battlefield Board in 1894. Now rendered in a new edition, edited by Dr. Thomas G.
Clemens (a historian with particular expertise in the Maryland Campaign), The Maryland
Campaign of September 1862 Volume 1 is an exhaustive accounting, originally assembled from
the testimonies of hundreds of veterans, as well as thousands of letters and maps. An extensive
introduction familiarizes the reader with the origins and importance of the manuscript, as well as
the research and presentation processes that Carman used. The Maryland Campaign of
September 1862 is an excellent addition to college library and Civil War reference shelves,
deserving the highest recommendation.

The Military Shelf

Dogface Soldier: The Life of General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. is a solid, in-depth biography of an
exemplary American military leader, who President Eisenhower valued as second only to Patton,
and who took over Patton's command from October 8, 1945 to April of 1946. Truscott pioneered
new combat training methods such as the so-called "Truscott Trot", played a critical role in
winning key battles in North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, and Southern France, and was highly
respected by officers and "dogfaces" (rank-and-file soldiers) alike. Dogface Soldier reveals the
civilian and military education, family, and friends that shaped Truscott's life, his military genius
and expertise, and his service after the war - especially his efforts to improve living conditions
for displaced Jews to remove Nazis from positions of power, and his involvement in the trials of
German war criminals. An excellent addition to military biography shelves, public and college
library reference shelves, Dogface Soldier is accessible to lay readers and historians alike and
very highly recommended.

WHIRLWIND: THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN 1942-1945 tells for the first time the entire
story of the Allied bombardment of Japan, using the words of pilots, flight crews, mechanics,
generals and veterans to tell both sides of the experience. His assessment of experiences,
strategy, tactics and moral issues provides a vivid story perfect for any military history
collection.

Energy Security Challenges for the 21st Century: A Reference Library offers a fine, timely book
for any interested in energy and security connections. The best field experts join forces to
consider the role of energy in modern life in countries around the world - and how these nations
achieve energy security. 20 leading experts review the world's energy systems and vulnerabilities
in a fine debate about resource conflicts, control and preservation. This should be a part of any
college-level military or social issues collection.

AN AMERICAN AMNESIA: HOW THE U.S. CONGRESS FORCED THE SURRENDERS
OF SOUTH VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA follows the dramatic series of events which in two
years caused Vietnam to change from a war zone to a peaceful region. The actions taken by
Congress and many American citizens forced South Vietnam's surrender, an event that brought
pain upon Southwest Asians. Notes and speeches plus the author's own experiences in Southeast
Asia document the process. American history and military libraries need this.

Barrett Tillman works with Henk van der Lugt in VF-11/111 'SUNDOWNERS'
(9781846034848, $25.95), a strong survey of aviation combat history adding to the 'Aviation
Elite Units' of the publisher. The Sundowners were established in 1942 and their achievements
spanned several wars - including winning the first jet- versus-jet victory over Korea in 1950. This
details all the aircraft and deployments of the Sundowners over a 52-year period and is a key
reference for any aviation or military shelf. Ken Ford's THE COCKLESHELL RAID;
BORDEAUX 1942 (9781846036934, $18.95) offers an authoritative analysis of one of the
greatest raids in military history, and thus deserves a place in any military library. It tells of a
1942 operation where five canoes took on the job of destroying merchant ships docked at
Bordeaux. Two made it to target - and changed the nature of the war. A riveting saga results.
Stephen Turnbull's HATAMOTO: SAMURAI HORSE AND FOOT GUARDS, 1540-1724
(9781846034787, $18.95) receives Richard Hook's fine color illustrations throughout as it
explores the hand-picked elite who served under the role of a Japanese feudal lord of the
Sengoku period. This analysis is key for not just military and ancient history libraries, but for any
Japanese history and culture collection, offering surveys of the hatamoto and their military might.
Dave McComb's US DESTROYERS 1942-45 (9781846034442, $17.95) tells of the design,
operation and successes of the wartime US Destroyer fleet, acclaimed for their advanced design.
From machinery to history, this provides a thorough work including especially commissioned
artwork and summaries of losses and decorations. Andrew Thomas' RAF MUSTANG AND
THUNDERBOLT ACES (9781846039799, $22.95) covers two of the finest military aircraft
flyers of World War II, blending histories of pilots, crafts, and overall military history to create a
detailed survey of the ace pilots and the planes they flew. Donald Nijboer's NO 126 WING
RCAF (9781846034831, $25.95) offers a fine combat history survey covering the Royal
Canadian Air Force's No. 126 Wing. From the wing's exploits to its fighter status and pilots who
achieved acclaim, it's an excellent, in-depth survey. Alejandro de Quesada's US COAST GUARD IN
WORLD WAR II (9781846039195, $18.95) tells of America's fourth armed service that came to
life during World War II and played key roles in important Pacific battles. Wartime photos and
uniform plates accompany a fine review of their achievements.

ROAD OF 10,000 PAINS: THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 2ND NVA DIV. BY TH U.S.
MARINES, 1967 provides a powerful coverage surveying the Que Son Valley campaign of
Vietnam for the first time. Official histories from both American and Vietnamese plus interviews
with over 150 Marines and soldiers lends to a riveting story of battles and wartime, offering an
authoritative account of a little-known mission. Any military library covering Vietnam must have
this.

Any library strong in military aviation titles will relish A HISTORY OF AIR WARFARE, a fine
assembly of papers on air power history and development and a 'bible' packed with information.
This captures the changing history of air warfare and analyzes the role air power has played in
military conflicts over the last century. These sixteen essays pack a punch and are a 'must' for any
serious military history library.

They Fought For Each Other
Kelly Kennedy
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780312570767, $24.99 www.stmartins.com

Heroism under fire is the topic of THEY FOUGHT FOR EACH OTHER: THE TRIUMPH AND
TRAGEDY OF THE HARDEST HIT UNIT IN IRAQ. It comes from a journalist who was
embedded with Charlie Company 1-26 for her job - and placed her in the position of observing
one of the worst neighborhoods in Baghdad in a unit that lost more men than any single battalion
had since Vietnam. Her battlefield experiences create a gripping saga.

The Biography Shelf

DEAD END GENE POOL: A MEMOIR tells of Wendy, ancestor of one Cornelius Vanderbilt
who grew up in a family once famous for wealth, but in the midst of decline. Her observations of
her flawed family life and her memoir of heartbreak and courage provides a lively vision of a
famous family whose fortunes have gone wrong, and is an outstanding pick for any lending
library.

THE LAST LEAF: VOICES OF HISTORY'S LAST-KNOWN SURVIVORS tells the personal
stories of the last living survivors of events that changed American history. From a 109-year-old
who is the last survivor of World War I to the last suffragette and the last living person to fly
with Amelia Earhart, no library should be without this.

IMPERFECT ENDINGS: A DAUGHTER'S TALE OF LIFE AND DEATH tells of Zoe's
mother, who spent twenty years battling a host of health conditions - and who explored various
options for suicide, and her wishes for her children to be with her when she did it. Zoe's eventual
acceptance of her mother's wishes and associations with the Hemlock Society make for a
poignant, moving memoir highly recommended for any general lending library.

A long score of history and a natural beauty can truly make a place a spiritual experience. "Iona
Dreaming: The Healing Power of Place" is a collection of reflections from Clare Cooper Marcus
as she speaks of her time she spent on the Scottish Island of Iona and what it aught her about her
life and how it can help others bring new insight into theirs as well. "Iona Dreaming" is a
thoughtful and spiritual read, a solid addition to any spirituality or memoir collection.

Life in the northern forests is an acquired taste. "North of Iskut: Grizzlies, Bannock, and
Adventure" is a collection of memoirs from Tor Forsberg as she reflects on her decision to travel
into the Yukon in her twenties and why since then she hasn't looked back, pursuing both her art
and her survival skills. A fascinating and insightful read of northern life, "North of Iskut" is a
choice pick for memoir collections.

The charming southern bell isn't what a lot of Southern women see themselves as. "Just Don't
Call Me Ma'am: How I Ditched the South, Forgot My Manners, and Managed to Survive My
Twenties with Most of My Dignity Still Intact" is a memoir of Anna Mitchael who left her
southern goddess lifestyle for something far different in life. A tale of small town girl going into
the big city and having fun with it, "Just Don't Call Me Ma'am" is an entertaining and thoughtful
memoir many readers will relish.

For those who viewed it, it altered their outlook on life forever. "Spectator in Hell: A British
Soldier's Story of Imprisonment in Auschwitz" is a memoir from Arthur Dodd as studied by
Colin Ruston. Taken prisoner by the Nazis in 1942, Dodd saw the true horrors of the Nazi
regime, and tells his first person account of a prisoner of war in one of the most notorious places
in history. "Spectator in Hell" is a strongly recommended addition to any World War II memoir
collection.

With the right idea and common sense, becoming a successful business man was a realized
dream for many immigrants. "Out of Step" is a unique memoir from Jane Murray Heimlich.
Telling the story of her father and how he came to this country and made his fortune with a mail
order business using dance steps, she provides a unique picture of her father and what it is like to
be the daughter of an immigrant success story, as well as the wife of a surgeon whose name is
used in saving lives - Dr. Henry Heimlich. Entertaining and thought provoking, "Out of Step" is a
treasure trove of memories shared, a highly recommended pick.

From a land that did not expect anything of her, she became the first Iranian woman in space.
"My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer" is a biographical memoir from
Anousheh Ansari, as she tells her life story from growing up in the chaos of Iran during its
revolutions, to how she found her way to American soil, making her American dream come true,
and so much more. She is not only an astronaut, but also a successful businesswoman. "My
Dream of Stars" is a choice pick for readers seeking a truly inspirational story.

Brilliance doesn't need to be told it's brilliant. "Pavel Florensky: A Quiet Genius, The Tragic and
Extraordinary Life of Russia's Unknown Da Vinci" looks into the life of Pavel Florensky, man
who has retrospectively compared to Leonardo Da Vinci as one of History's greatest minds. A
man of many professions, he placed his thoughts into everything from the priesthood to physics,
engineering, mathematics, and philosophy. A renaissance man after the fact, Avril Pyman paints
a complete picture of this truly unique man. "Pavel Florensky" is a top pick for biographical
collections.

Freeing Charles: The Struggle to Free a Slave on the Eve of the Civil War is an extraordinary
chronicle of escaped slave Charles Nalle of Culpeper, Virginia, who was freed through force by
Harriet Tubman and others. Freeing Charles portrays how he escaped through the Underground
Railroad shortly before the American Civil War, and his encounters in the North. The entire
incident involved one of the most severe anti-slavery riots outside of Harpers Ferry. Freeing
Charles is more than a dry historical rendition; author Scott Christianson also portrays the slavery
culture in Virginia, and the political and psychological forces driving Charles' dramatic true
story. A snapshot of the borderline between rule of law and violent opposition to the culture of
slavery, Freeing Charles is as captivating to read as it is scholarly and historical. Highly
recommended.

The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Scars and Stilettos offers an autobiography of an exotic dancer who at nineteen was trapped by
thousands of dollars of debt, a dominating boyfriend, and a descent into a squalid life as an exotic
dancer. Her discovery of God and her journey away from her past to become an educated,
married woman with a fine family creates an inspirational saga perfect for any spirituality
collection.

UNCOMMON GRATITUDE: ALLELLUIA FOR ALL THAT IS comes from the Archbishop of
Canterbury who maintains the proper stance in the Christian world is one of gratitude. This
surveys things to be grateful for - and reflects on how singing "alleluia" opens the door to other
realities and truths. A fine inspirational reflection any Christian collection will welcome.

Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything offers insights including
spiritual assessments for women who find food is taking over their lives. Geneen Roth has
struggled with food nearly all her life: this goes beyond eating guidelines to explore food's
relationship to core beliefs and cultural perception and is a special pick for spirituality as well as
health collections.

God and His Demons comes from a noted author and activist who examines the dark side of
religion, from the evils committed in the name of God through history to religion's hypocrisies.
Unlike most approaches this isn't a condemnation of belief itself, but a focus on how faith is
exploited by those in power. Spirituality libraries, therefore, will consider this a fine discussion
of how belief and faith can be corrupted.

Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu's MADE FOR GOODNESS (9780061706592, $25.99) is written
by the Archbishop and his daughter, who is also an ordained Episcopal minister, and here argues
that humanity is destined for goodness. When we begin to walk in the direction of this goodness,
we'll be embraced and encouraged. This message is a 'must' in this uncertain world and
spirituality libraries will find it inspirational. Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Lilian Cheung's SAVOR:
MINDFUL EATING, MINDFUL LIFE (9780061697692, $25.99) comes from two experts in the
fields of mindfulness and nutrition who offer a survey linking food to spirituality. A Buddhist
and a nutritionist discuss how to apply concepts of mindful teachings to everyday life and eating,
blending Buddhism with food insights in a fine discussion. N.T. Wright's AFTER YOU
BELIEVE: WHY CHRISTIAN CHARACTER MATTERS (9780061730559, $24.99) examines
the key question of how we should live, arguing that people are so preoccupied with how they get
into heaven that they forget about the hear and now and how to live daily life on Earth. This
survey of Christian virtues in daily living is key to any Christian collection as concerned with the
here-and-now as with the future.

TATTOOS ON THE HEART: THE POWER OF BOUNDLESS COMPASSION uses Father
Gregory Boyle's achievement - establishing the largest gang intervention program in the country -
to present a book of stories and essays detailing his work. Arranged by theme and filled with
humor and insights on faith, this discusses how to stay faithful in spite of failure and how to
cultivate a loving heart in a harsh world. Highly recommended: an inspirational read for any
spirituality collection.

O GOD: A DIALOGUE ON TRUTH AND OPRAH'S SPIRITUALITY provides a strong
Christian response to the teachings of Oprah and her friends, answering some issues raised by her
approach. From whether there are different ways to reach God to why one would worship a
jealous God, this provides many easy inquiries and debates perfect for spirituality libraries.

A clear soul is just as important as a clear mind. "Housekeeping for the Soul: A Practical Guide
to Restoring Your Inner Sanctuary" is a self-help guide from Sandra Carrington-Smith, who
urges readers to manage the culture of Chaos in their lives, and keep their soul clear so that they
may best deal with life's crises while unencumbered with the woes. "Housekeeping for the Soul"
is a fine addition to any self-help or spirituality collections.

You can easily lose your soul to the devils of the world if you're not careful. "Who Stole My
Soul?: A Dialogue with the Devil On the Meaning of Life" is a combination of memoir and
spirituality tale as Vishwa Prakash offers his own viewpoints on the soul and how you can lose it
and leave yourself a soulless husk wondering why your life is so unfulfilled. Encouraging readers
to find their own souls, "Who Stole My Soul?" is a choice pick for spirituality readers and should
not be missed.

To Be and How to Be
Peggy Rubin
Quest Books
c/o The Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60189-0270
9780835608534 $16.95 www.questbooks.net 1-800-669-9425

Classical and Shakespearean actress Peggy Rubin presents To Be and How to Be: Transforming
Your Life Through Sacred Theatre, a spiritual self-help guide to using the nine powers of the
theater to empower oneself, explore the sacred stage, and pursue one's dreams. The nine powers
of the theater are the Powers of Incarnation, Story, Now!, Place, Expression, Point of View,
Conflict, Audience and Celebration. Chapters reveal how the metaphor of the play can lend new
insight into the ups and downs of both earthly and spiritual life. "Once we understand that the
breaking of molecular bonds is an essential part of the experiment of life, it becomes easier to
recognize that breakups in the larger, outer world can also be necessary and held within the
Power of Celebration." An invaluable guide, filled with exercises to revitalize the way one looks
at oneself and the world.

The Social Issues Shelf

POWER GRAB: HOW OBAMA'S GREEN POLICIES WILL STEAL YOUR FREEDOM AND
BANKRUPT AMERICA maintains that the goal of Obama's green policies is to make the cost of
energy so high that companies will divert their resources into unprofitable, unreliable green
technologies. Chapters maintain that America has the greatest energy reserves in the world - they
are just not being exploited - and that Obama's policies are assuring these resources can't be
exploited. A different perspective on the issue.

Both college-level history and social issues libraries will find relevant and involving THE NEW
VICHY SYNDROME: WHY EUROPEAN INTELLECTUALS SURRENDER TO
BARBARISM. It documents a continent daily losing ground to other regions of the world on
many levels, traces the overall malaise to the two great conflicts of the last century, and analyzes
European beliefs, trends, and the promise of the European Union. Any interested in the future
and nature of the EU and Europe must have this discussion.

The Myth of the Shrinking State: Globalization and the State in India considers the impact of
globalization on India, challenging the belief that the inevitable result is the erosion of the
economic and welfare roles of the state and documenting its actual expansion. College-level
audiences studying India's social system and political structure need this: it provides in-depth,
scholarly analysis backed by economic and political facts and considers the workings of the
state's system and impact.

MUSLIM MAFIA: INSIDE THE SECRET UNDERWORLD THAT'S CONSPIRING TO
ISLAMIZE AMERICA deserves ongoing recommendation is a powerful survey by a man who
worked as an intern in an undercover operation that would reveal a well-funded conspiracy to
destroy American society and promote radical Islam. An eye-opening revelation, this should be
in every library concerned with Islam and American society.

The Banality of Suicide Terrorism: The Naked Truth About the Psychology of Islamic Suicide
Bombing belongs in any library strong in terrorism issues and science. It explains how the
mother-child relationship is key to understanding Islamic suicide terrorism, analyzing the
psychology behind terrorist suicide actions. A fine survey for any college-level psychology or
social issues library.

Everyone has a favorite way to spend their time. "Pastimes: The Context of Contemporary
Leisure" discusses pastimes and how America spends their free time and their bigger impact on
the world around them. From explaining the importance of having fun, its value to society, how
history has dictated leisure throughout the ages, differences around the world, and so much more.
"Pastimes" is a scholarly look at leisurely and an intriguing and fascinating read.

Twenty years from now, will the European Union be looked at as a positive force for Europe?
"Europe 2030" looks at the member nations of the European Union 20 years from now. Chapters
cover the rapidly changing landscape of modern times, the European Union's status as a global
player, its search for new members, and the development of Islam. "Europe 2030" is a choice
pick for anyone who wants a glimpse of Europe's future.

For forty years, Noam Chomsky's erudite insights into politics and language have proved to be an
invaluable contribution to ongoing social reflection. Hopes and Prospects is Chomsky's latest
work, warning readers about the latest risks and challenges facing America and humankind
during the early twenty-first century. Chapters address the growing divide between America's
North and South, American exceptionalism (which still has a strong hold in the era of President
Barack Obama), the morass of problems (to put it lightly) with Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S.-Israeli
aggression toward Gaza, the controversial governmental bailouts - and suggestions to improve
the future, as well as reflections on positive developments such as democratic movements in
Latin America and global solidarity efforts. Thought-provoking, measured, and grounded in
rationality, Hopes and Prospects is strongly recommended as a vital nexus for social debate over
vitally pressing national and global issues.

Linguist and human rights advocate Noam Chomsky and more than twenty scholars, activists,
and educators of North and South America present New World of Indigenous Resistance, a
thoughtful collection of writings concerning the difficult choices indigenous societies have faced,
and continue to face, in a changing post-colonial world. Protecting indigenous community
customs has, in some cases, led to the rejection of state-provided education - but is this truly a
beneficial trade-off? How can tolerance be promoted while holding on to the values of communal
rituals, language, traditions, and learning practices? Is it possible to retain the most distinctive
and valuable aspects of a traditional culture in the wake of the overwhelming forces of
globalization? Individual essays include "Indigenous Peoples Contesting State Nationalism and
Corporate Globalism", "The Path of Decolonization", "U.S. Imperialism and the Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples", and much more. Two direct interviews with Chomsky
enhance this articulate examination of challenges facing indigenous peoples today, including a
positive viewpoint of means by which indigenous cultures can resist total assimilation, endure
and spread hope. Highly recommended.

The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

TRANSITION NOW: REDEFINING DUALITY 2012 AND BEYOND is for new age and
spiritual readers seeking guidance in understanding the new rules of the future. It offers details on
how to celebrate past regimes' downfall while embracing new energies in both spiritual and
economic realms, offering a survey of individual transformation processes which is both
enlightening and positive. Highly recommended.

PASS THE JELLY: TALES OF ORDINARY ENLIGHTENMENT explores the Pass the Jelly
principle, which teaches about cause, effect and acceptance. The author's formula for quick
compassion and how to live a fruitful life makes for a powerful set of admonitions perfect for any
new age or spirituality collection.

The Divine Name: The Sound That Can Change the World includes a free instructional CD and
is a top pick for any library strong in spirituality. The Divine Name is a universal sound that can
bring harmony and healing not just to ourselves, but to the planet. This sound is the personal
name of God - and this book offers a step-by-step survey of vibratory activation for experiencing
this power. Any new age or spirituality library needs this.

An MP3 CD accompanies Bob Stahl, Ph.D. and Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.'s A
MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION WORKBOOK (9781572247086, $24.95), a
fine self-help workbook that covers mindfulness in daily living, from meditation and yoga to
walking, breathing, and handling emotions. More than eight hours of guided meditations make
this workbook and disc combo a top pick for any new age home library. Mary NurrieStearns,
LCSW, RYT and Rick NurrieStearns' YOGA FOR ANXIETY: MEDITATIONS AND
PRACTICES FOR CALMING THE BODY AND MIND (9781572246515, $17.95) provides a
powerful self-help title surveying regular yoga practice techniques and their ability to calm stress
and reduce anxiety. Meditations and self-inquiry exercises are at the heart of a self-help guide
offering yoga poses to develop mental clarity.

The Secret History of Vampires: Their Multiple Forms and Hidden Purposes represents the
author's research through forgotten records to create a very different portrait of vampires. The
ancestors of modern vampires weren't all blood suckers - and one even resulted from masons
secretly interring the shadow of a living human being in the wall of a building. Fascinating
reading!

Medicine can go further than simply alleviating a problem. "Swedenborg, Mesmer, & the
Mind/Body Connection: The Roots of Contemporary Medicine" delves into the philosophies and
practices developed by Swedenborg and Mesmer as they developed their ideas of complementary
medicine, and alternative practices such as spiritual healing, psychic ideas, and other ideas that
have evolved into today's new age and alternative medicine. "Swedenborg, Mesmer, & the
Mind/Body Connection" is a riveting read of the pioneers of this train of medicine thought.

American history didn't begin in 1492, but millennium ago. "Axis of the World" is a
metaphysical delve into American history, searching for the earliest known start of the American
Indians and the other people of the Americas. Easter Island, lost lands, origins of the American
Indians, cities advanced past their time and more, "Axis of the World" is a fascinating read that
will entertain both history and metaphysical readers.

UFO investigator and retired lieutenant colonel Kevin D. Randle presents Crash: When UFOs
Fall from the Sky, a collection of research reports of alien spaceship crashes from 1947 and
earlier to 2009. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful, updated
compendium of paranormal evidence and theory, which suggests possible solutions to some of
the longest running enigmas about the possibility of extraterrestrial influence. From eyewitness
testimony to paper trails to ongoing controversies, Crash: When UFOs Fall from the Sky is an
invaluable compendium for anyone interested in learning about evidence of UFOs, and a
welcome addition to paranormal studies shelves.

The Christian Studies Shelf

Jesus was more than a figure who has attracted the worship of a billion people - he was a man.
"Jesus of Nazareth" is a take on Jesus placing him in the shoes that everyone has walked, the
shoes of a human being. Stating that Jesus, regardless of the spiritual connotations and miracles,
was a man who wanted to change the world for the better, and through these desires acted not
only as a spiritual leader, but a politician. "Jesus of Nazareth" is a compelling read that will grip
readers regardless of their religious beliefs.

The acts of Christ are things of legend, but could these legends be true? "The Healing Christ" is a
metaphysical look at the work of Chris, and how his acts all those acts in biblical times may be
true when the ideas of metaphysics are applied. A fascinating and insightful approach to the life
of Christ, "The Healing Christ" is a read that shouldn't be missed for Christians with an interest
in the metaphysical.

Anabaptism commonly finds itself among the culture of the Amish or Mennonites, leaving many
spectators confused to its true nature. "The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials of a Radical
Faith" discuss this tradition and its true values for the world to see and judge, and perhaps inspire
others to follow. From history to modern practices and worship, "The Naked Anabaptist" is a fine
addition to any religious studies collection.

In railing against faith, some atheists become the very thing they speak out against. "Against All
Gods: What's Right and Wrong about the New Atheism" discusses the modern atheist movement,
bringing forth a scholarly debate and how many atheists are hurting the cause arguing with weak
or false information, putting religion to the stake a bit too harshly. "Against All Gods" is a
fascinating read, and a top pick for any intrigued with the modern religious debate.

The spirit isn't possessed of endless energy; it needs a rest now and again. "A 30 Day Retreat: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Renewal" helps readers understand how to use scripture and to fully embrace one's faith, allowing one to return to one's everyday life with an increased sense of purpose and drive. "A 30 Day Retreat" may be just what some Christians need to empower their lives.

Free will can have its place in God's world. "Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach" is
a discussion of faith as Kenneth Keathley places the Calvinist principles that state God has
control of all things in the world, and discusses it against Molinism, a doctrine that believes God
controls the world, but humanity has free will and control of their own destiny. Discussing faith
from multiple directions and with much to think about, "Salvation and Sovereignty" is a top pick
and very highly recommended read.

Coping with loss is the challenge many ministers must help their congregation with. "Grief:
Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry" is a collection of thoughts and ideas on the
role of the minister in helping grievers find hope and find God at the time they need him the
most. Thoughtful and acknowledging of modern issues facing many worshipers, "Grief" is a
choice pick for any minister who wants to improve their actions when dealing with these
issues.

The Eucharist is a major aspect of Catholicism, and Pope Benedict XVI has written much on the
matter regarding it. "Heart of the Christian Life: Thoughts on Holy Mass" is a collection of the
Pope's writings on the subject, composed throughout his life as Joseph Ratzinger to his position
as pope. High spirituality and very driven writing, Catholics who want their faith spurred by
words would do well in acquiring "Heart of Christian Life", a solid addition to Catholic and
Christian collections.

Faith is not a solitary thing. "The Catholic Family Connections Bible: Pray It, Study It, Live It" is
a guide for Christians who want to bring the word of God to their family. Saint Mary's Press
brings this resource ton how to use the Bible to encourage faith in one's family every day, with
plenty of activities that include the whole family and enlighten them on biblical history and
virtues. "The Catholic Family Connections Bible" is a choice and enticing read that serves as a
top notch reference for Catholic families.

Meeting God in Quiet Places is a beautiful DVD that pairs the reverent and tranquil narration of
American author F. LaGard Smith with captivating glimpses of England's countryside and an
evocative soundtrack. The result is a series of seven short films that bring to life the pleasant and
fulfilling atmosphere of summer and winter England. The simple parables blend with the tranquil
footage into a soulful whole. A truly spiritual experience, Meeting God in Quiet Places is an
unforgettable island of peace amid the chaotic bedlam of day-to-day life. Also highly
recommended from Vision Video are "Psalms Alive with Billy Angel: Part 1" ($19.99) and
"Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims: A Bible Study for Christians" ($19.99).

The Audiobook Shelf

Altar of Eden is the unabridged audiobook rendition of James Rollins' stand-alone thriller.
Louisiana veterinarian Lorna Polk has discovered a destroyed fishing trawler, with no crew,
carrying the oddest medley of bizarre animals. The creatures have been tampered with
genetically, and look like no other animals on Earth - plus they appear to have an extraordinary
level of intelligence. And one of the animals appears to be missing. Altar of Eden weaves a
cautionary tale with exciting suspense, building to a tense climax about the deadly consequences
when human beings dare to supplant the will of Nature. Highly recommended. 9 CDs, 11.75
hours.

Union of the Snake is a radio play on CD following two young anthropologists in the depths of
the Florida Everglades. They came to examine the yearly snake worship ceremony of the
little-known Chazichentee tribe; what they discover is far more horrifying. A vile,
soul-destroying plot ensnares them, and they must find a way to fight back or be devoured by an
all-consuming evil. Superbly performed, Union of the Snake is a thrilling adventure, sure to keep
the listener on the edge of his or her seat until the very end.

ON THE BRINK: INSIDE THE RACE TO STOP THE COLLAPSE OF THE GLOBAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM is a top pick pairing a fine reading by Dan Woren with a special
conversation with the author. This focus by the former CEO of Goldman Sachs provides an
insider's insights into the makings of the current financial crisis, and offers a story of people,
politics and economics that ties together many loose strings.

A DARK MATTER receives a fine reading by Robertson Dean, who adds a smooth and
passionate voice to the story of Spencer, who holds a secret ritual for college students only to
find death will change the lives of friends who attend. Years later each of the friends flinches
from the 'dark matter' they recall - and finds ongoing effects they will have to challenge to stay
sane. A gripping thriller evolves.

Dan John Miller's performance in Lionel Shriver's SO MUCH FOR THAT (1423360990,
$36.99) lends an excellent, spirited reading to this novel about a stressed marriage affected by
serious illness. Shep's longtime dream of retreating to an idyllic Third World retirement locale is
thwarted by his wife's reluctance to move - and by her illness, which demands he retain his
connection to her and put off his retirement to paradise. Against staggering health costs and
challenges, can Shep's life retain its value? A fine story evolves! Jandy Nelson's THE SKY IS
EVERYWHERE (1441820132, $24.99) receives Julia Whelan's fine acting voice and
background as it tells of a teen bookworm and band geek who hides behind her fiery older sister -
until she dies suddenly. Now she's struggling to balance her changed life and new role, in this
magical story. Linda Howard's STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT (1423363396, $29.99) receives
veteran narrator Laurel Merlington's smooth, seasoned voice which captures the tension and
thrills of a fine story collection. From Thea, who encounters her love in a world of dreams only
to find reality offers dangers on a country lake, to Hope, who offers shelter to a stranger only to
suspect he may be a criminal, this provides a fine collection of romance spiced with danger. Jack
Vance's EYES OF THE OVERWORLD (1441814612, $29.99) provides another in the 'Tales of
Dying Earth' series, with a fine performance by reader Arthur Morey fueling a story about a
scoundrel sent by a magician he has wronged to a distant country on a journey. Stealing the secret
instead, magic goes awry on a dangerous pilgrimage. Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice's RED
DRAGON RISING: SHADOWS OF WAR (1423370090, $39.99) receives Luke Daniels'
professional acting voice and skills and offers a fine thriller set in the near future, where massive
climate change has affected the world. An American scientist witnesses a clever attempt by the
Chinese to make it appear that Vietnam began a dangerous war - and his life becomes an exercise
in eluding capture as a result. Gripping audio action evolves. T. Jefferson Parker's THE BLUE
HOUR (1423355679, $29.99) receives an outstanding performance by Tavia Gilbert, an
award-winning narrator who here brings to life the story of two very different cops who must
track down a killer who abducts women from malls. Their relationship may determine success or
failure in this riveting mystery. J.T. Ellison's THE COLD ROOM (1441838457, $29.99) receives
a fine performance by veteran narrator Joyce Bean as it provides a crime thriller based on a
female homicide detective who pursues The Conductor, who traps his victims in a glass coffin,
slowly starving her to death. A dangerous game of cat and mouse evolves in this moving
story.

Penguin Audio
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Danielle Trussoni's ANGELOLOGY (9780143145264, $39.95) benefits from reader Susan
Denaker's stage, film and television background which adds spice and zest to this story of Sister
Evangeline, who discovers a 1943 correspondence between the later mother superior of a convent
and a famous philanthropist that reveals an extensive secret history documenting conflict
between the Society of Angelologists and the beautiful descendants of angels and humans, the
Nephilim. Her studies will reveal her own role in the ongoing battles in this engrossing listen.
Linda Faristein's HELL GATE (9780143145325, $39.95) receives veteran recording artist
Barbara Rosenblat's vivid rendition as it tells of political intrigue, scandal, and New York City
deals. Here Alex's investigation of a shipwreck with contraband leads to dangerous political
insights in a tense, dark thriller of underground New York's powerful participants. Louisa May
Alcott's THE LOST SUMMER (9780142427811, $29.95) pairs Emily Janice Card's acting
background and smooth voice with the story of twenty-two-year-old Louisa, whose destitute
family moves to a generous uncle's empty house for the summer, where Louisa experiences
summertime romance. Fact and fiction blend in a satisfying, lovely story. Elizabeth Gilbert's
THE LAST AMERICAN MAN (9780142428245, $29.95) pairs actress Patricia Kalember's
skills with an engaging true story of one Eustace Conway, who has made his home in the
Appalachian Mountains for over thirty years, mastering self-sufficient living. His evolution from
an idealistic nature-lover to a seasoned environmentalist makes for a fascinating memoir that
comes alive on audio. Stephen King wrote as Richard Bachman when he created THE LONG
WALK (9780142427835, $39.95), which here appears in audio with his own name the highlight.
Kirby Heyborne, a musician and professional narrator, brings to life a vivid story of a hundred
teen boys who meet for an annual 'Long Walk', only to find there can be only one winner in this
event: the one who survives. A gripping saga comes to life. Stephen King's FIRESTARTER
(9780142427842, $49.95) receives Dennis Boutsikaris' award-winning voice performance as it
tells of a top-secret government experiment designed to produce psychic powers. A man and a
woman part of the experiment produce a daughter - a daughter who shows signs of a dangerous
power. A powerful thriller evolves. Laurel K. Hamilton's OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY appears both
unabridged (9780143144090, $39.95), and abridged (9780143145097, $29.95), and pairs a fine
recording by the author as it provides another in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. Here a
hit man who specializes in monsters challenges Anita to a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in this
fine thriller.

Patrick Gale's THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH (9781407450360, $39.95) enjoys a fine dual
narration by Sandra Duncan and Ed Stoppard as it tells of Parisian Laura Lewis, who relocates to
Winchester to care for a sick mother - and encounters a married man in hiding from his marriage.
Romance and fine drama evolve. Louise Candlish's I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU
(9781407448305, $56.95) receives Julie Maisey's fine voice and tells of Hannah and Juliet
Goodwin, close sisters and best friends until Juliet's boyfriend is killed and she begins a
downward emotional spiral that threatens their relationship. A fine story of life, death and love
emerges.

The Jobs/Careers Shelf

You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career provides job seekers with a
valuable key to moving into a new career, updated for the current recession and covering the
basics of what to do with school major. Learn how to do what you really want, regardless of
major or college study, through strategies the author presents to help readers blend life
experience into education to get the best jobs. General lending libraries will find this a popular
pick.

After you've served your time, it can prove difficult to rejoin the workforce in a meaningful way.
"The Ex-Offender's 30/30 Job Solution: Your Lifeboat Guide to Re-Entry Success" is a guide for
ex-offenders who are forced to start from scratch with no support. These ex-offenders have
special challenges involving probation and parole, on top of the challenges that come with the
reserved nature of employers and ex-offenders. "The Ex-Offenders 30/30 Job Solution" is an
enlightening and highly useful read for those who want to put their life back on the right
track.

The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The sixth expanded and updated edition of Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North
America packs in color illustrations, species accounts, and maps along with over three hours of
video podcasts online to supplement the guide. With paintings showing birds in idea position and
key field identifiers highlighted, this is key to Peterson's identification system success, and makes
for an ongoing recommendation for any library covering birder guides to the region.

URBAN CARNIVORES: ECOLOGY, CONFLICT AND CONSERVATION provides an
outstanding, key survey of human-carnivore interactions in urban areas. This college-level study
surveys the field of urban ecology and the roles of carnivores in urban ecosystems, offering
chapters covering common urban carnivores and their impact in cities. Conservation and conflict
management provide fine keys to understanding.

The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is arranged alphabetically with over a thousand entries
explaining the origins of over 2,00 mammal species names. Each listing considers the scientific
and common-language names of all species named after the person, outlines the individual's
contributions to mammalogy and zoology, and includes brief details on the mammal's
distribution. A fine, authoritative text results.

The fifth updated edition of Harkness and Wagner's Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and
Rodents is a 'must' for any library strong in small mammal husbandry and health. From lab
animal medicine and pet practice to diagnosis, case studies, and clinical assessments of rabbits,
guinea pigs, chinchillas, and more, this reference is a key 'must' for practicing clinicians and vet
students alike.

ANIMAL FACTORY; THE LOOMING THREAT OF INDUSTRIAL PIG, DAIRY, AND
POULTRY FARMS TO HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT provides a powerful account
of industrial meat production and factory farms, documenting their dangers to human health. It's
investigative journalism at its best, with author David Kirby approaching factory farms from a
different perspective and considering the lasting costs of their choices. Any library strong in
animal rights issues must have this.

There's more to birds and the weather than them flying south for the winter. "Say Goodbye to the
Cuckoo: Migratory Birds and the Impending Ecological Catastrophe" analyzes the decline in
migration in birds, stating that with the recent ecological changes, fewer birds are traveling north
and southwards than ever before. Declaring that this decline may have serious implications and
mourning the loss of culture that comes with these birds, "Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo" is a
riveting analysis of birds, their migratory habits, and the ecological problems that modern
America faces.

Once a common feature of the African landscape, the African wild dog, a species that is more
than three million years old, is now in very real danger of extinction. Because of its unique
genetic make-up, the African wild dog is unable to crossbreed with any other canine species. The
collaborative project of South African photographers Roger and pat De La Harpe, "In Search of
the African Wild Dog" is a superbly illustrated, 160-page, coffee table book showcasing the
African wild dog in its native habitat. This outstanding compendium of color photographs reveals
the environment of this unique animal in five informative geographically based sections: South
Africa; North West Bushveld; Zululand; Limpopo Valley; and the Greater Kruger national Park.
There overall numbers having dwindled down from millions to an estimated three to four
thousand (with only five hundred of that number in South Africa), "In Search of the African Wild
Dog" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library
Endangered Wildlife reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

You can always teach a dog new tricks, no matter the age. "4-H Guide: Dog Training & Dog
Tricks" is a guide for would be dog trainers who want to train their dogs to behave better and
teach them more than a few new tricks. With many ideas for new methods and plenty of tips how
to manage the different breeds of dogs, "Dog Training and Dog Tricks" is an invaluable tool
which shouldn't be underrated for dog owners and their beloved pets.

It's not just a hobby, it's a way of life. "Horse Tales from Heaven: Reflections Along the Trail
with God" is a memoir of Rebecca E. Ondov as she reflects on her time in the west and how
during time as a wilderness ranger, her bond with God never faded and remained with her as she
faced the many challenges of her profession. With many stories sure to entertain the lover of
adventure and horses, "Horse Tales from Heaven" is a top pick and very highly recommended
read.

The Poetry Shelf

Many different people, no matter who they are, prove to be teachers all the same. "Unsettled
Accounts" is a collection of poetry from Will Wells as he comes to readers with an array of
wisdom and wit as he reflects on the vastly different people of the world. Intriguing work,
"Unsettled Accounts" is a worthy addition to any poetry collection. "Feuds": In the faded parlors
of Tirolo's two best houses,/the widows still duel at their pianos./Something like Schubert turns
the swallows/into notation, circling unresolved./Slugs tryst listlessly to the answering strains of
Chopin, waltzing at dirge tempo./High on an outcrop, a castello shakes/its crenelated fist at the
tower one ridge over./Stinging nettles defend the granite walls./At each arrow loop, the quick
salamander/or the scorpion with barbed tail flexed,/a Gabbiano warrior in chain mail./Under
them, the Adige runs to meet its lover,/Isarco, and on to Verona where lovers die.

Death for many, is not viewed as the worst thing that can happen. "The Lesser Tragedy of Death"
is a collection of poems from Cristina Garcia, a teacher author of countless previous novels. Her
work focuses on the disgraces of life and how many fall into it, trying desperately to recover their
status in life. "The Lesser Tragedy of Death" is a fine collection that shouldn't be ignored.
"Brain": Halved walnut halved/again/dusted with gunpowder.//Right lobe courts conceit, a
flaunting evil./Its motto: Nothing in nature says no.//The left lobe labors, motto-less, in the
day-to-day hard light./Nothing rhythmical is permitted.//This contest was rigged from the
beginning.

Poetry not only helps a reader understand, it helps the writer understand. "Behold" is the seventh
collection of poetry from Nicki Jackowska, as she presents he own brand of middle class English
poetry, unique to the world. "Behold" is a thoughtful and thought provoking read that shouldn't
be missed. "Hold" : I bring a sound from the high slopes/bell against loss, those
mountain-keepers/held by a rope of far-off notes/tethered to shepherds, hill-farms/or one lone
caller here, drawing you in.//And your eyes grow wide, staring into me and out beyond us both/to
a wide, wide world uncharted yet/cupped by this hollow beat on metal/mountain-goat's familiar,
echo deep-song.

With countless works published under his name, Rob McLennan brings readers "wild horses". The Ottawa native uses his endless expertise in the field of writing to craft moving and lyrical verse which will bring much in unique perspective for readers. Fascinating and well thought out, "wild horses" is a core addition to poetry collections. "wild horses": she, says get a horse & go out/where the foothills//if any else sunlight in, given//by the side an hour lost, the blue/shifting sands of the northern lights//if spirited, to speak at a time/across one hundred & fortieth//twenty minute north where need/& in the wrong//direction.

Mastery of language as an art form is not about how many words you can use. "Painted Fire" is a
collection of poems from Italian poet Maria Lusia Spazianai, chronicling over fifty years of her
work, expertly translated by Lynne Lawner. Regarded as one of the greatest living Italian poets,
Spaziani's work is well presented in "Painted Fire" is a choice collection for world poetry lovers.
"Reality": Reality is pure perception./We look at life in a mirror/beyond an often transparent
theater curtain.//Underneath is life. Occasionally we see it/take the shape of an abandoned
farmhouse in the night/which lightning suddenly renders visible.

The Self-Help Shelf

Why are some people just happier than others? "Happiness Genes: Unlock the Positive Potential
Hidden in Your DNA" discusses happiness genes and the roles one's genetic makeup can play in
one's overall well-being and happiness. Stating that happiness is controllable by controlling one's
emotions which are different for different people, James D. Baird and Laurie Nadel give readers
a 28-day long program to unlock the happiness within. "Happiness Genes" is a fascinating look
into happiness and depression, very highly recommended.

Strong communication is needed to get anything started. "Improve Your Communication Skills"
is a revised second edition of Alan Barker's guide to improving one's communication skills.
Whether one is giving a speech, writing a formal letter, or just holding a conversation,
communication is one unavoidable facet of life that can always be improved upon for a better
future. "Improve Your Communication Skills" is a strong pick for any who want to convey their
ideas more effectively.

Money doesn't buy happiness, so you can get it on the cheap. "Broke is Beautiful: Living and
Loving the Cash-Strapped Life" is a guide to living a cool life where money isn't the king, but
how you live your life in spite of your poverty is. Laura Lee gives readers a good array of
thoughts and wisdom and makes for a very entertaining and fun read. "Broke is Beautiful" is a
choice and highly recommended read which shouldn't be missed for those who want to live well
when they got nothing in the wallet.

Depression is a problem plaguing many Americans, but it is defeatable. "Struck by Living: From
Depression to Hope" is a self-help memoir from Julie K. Hersh as she tells her own story of
fighting back from crippling depression, a problem that has plagued her family for generations,
and how she fought off her suicidal tendencies to reclaim her soul. With plenty to help other
people fighting their own depression, "Struck by Living" is a choice and highly recommended
read.

The Fiction Shelf

When life goes sour, a return to family may be all you have to stay afloat. "Sing" tells a story of
three different lives of the St. Clair family in the later half of the nineteenth century. One faces a
harsh winter of Colorado, another faces the scams and subterfuge of Paris, and yet another loses
his boxing career to be forced to work on a ship. With no where to turn, they start on the long
journey home, hoping family will deliver them from the crisis they face. "Sing" is a top pick and
very highly recommended read.

Nothing takes one's steam quicker than being replaced. "Gasoline" is the tale of Heribert, a man
grappling with his own artistic block and loss of love for life. Uncaring for his family, for his life,
for anything, he watches as another individual by the name of Humbert takes over everything he
does, doing it better. A fascinating read of the decline of a great mind and the rise of another,
"Gasoline" is a choice and very highly recommended read that shouldn't be missed.

The wrong doers of the world often cooperate, creating a tangled web that good men must
untangle. "The Roosevelt Gambit" is a historical novel set in the early twentieth century as
Leighton Hanshaw finds in his hands a web of issues that endanger the lives of his president, his
country, the world itself, and himself as well. "The Roosevelt Gambit" is an exciting action and
adventure read for fans of historical fiction.

A life shattering event forces changes that no child wants. "The Second Trial" tells the story of
Danny McMillan as he tries to come to terms with his radically changed life after a horrible act
of his father against his mother. Forced to relocate to a new life, Danny finds it hard to adapt, and
the temptation to rebel is so very strong. "The Second Trial" is a read of a child finding it hard to
adapt to a new world, which many young readers may find relation to. Highly
recommended.

With One Foot in the Butterfly Farm
L. D. Brodsky
Time Being Books
10411 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131
9781568091297, $14.95

It's a bit hard to go through life and not lose your mind a little. "With One Foot in the Butterfly
Farm" is a collection of short fiction with absurd twists from L.D. Brodsky as he tells tale of
workplace shenanigans, the duty that drives us through life, and the things you face simply living
in one's home. Funny yet poignant, "With One Foot in the Butterfly Farm" is a choice pick for
humorous fiction collections.

The elderly have quite a bit of wisdom, and often you'll get it whether you want it or not.
"Feeding Mrs. Moskowitz & the Caregiver" is a pair of two novellas focusing on the topic of the
elderly and their interactions with the people around them. 'Feeding Mrs. Moskowitz' is the story
of the titular elderly lady and her encounters with a girl rapidly approaching middle age. 'The
Caregiver' tells the tale of a caregiver and her job at an assisted living facility. "Feeding Mrs.
Moskowitz & The Caregiver" is an enticing read that shouldn't be missed.

Love and lust know no boundaries for many. "Drenched: Stories of Love and Other Deliriums" is
a collection of short fiction from Marisa Matarazzo as she puts together a collection of tales
blending the sensual and the fantastic. Her stories tell real facts of love and the many questions
asked as people face it and throughout it. Riveting and thought provoking reading, "Drenched" is
a choice pick for any fiction collection.

The knowledge of Oz doesn't simply die with Dorothy. "The Adventures of Glinda Gale: A
Reimagining of the Wizard of Oz" presents a new take on the story of Oz, as through Dorothy's
daughter Glinda, J.A. Holst presents a deeper exploration of L. Frank Baum's original Wizard of
Oz story, presenting many different takes on the elements of the story, answering questions never
answered in the original work. "The Adventures of Glinda Gale" is a solid addition to any fiction
collection and for anyone looking for a twist on Oz.

The nature of the Druids is mysterious to outsiders, and therefore it was sought to be destroyed.
"The Druid Isle" is a novel following Aife and Lucius, two individuals who find themselves on
the Druid Isle, in the third century AD. Faced with the coming Roman army, Ellen Evert Hopman
tells a story of the Celts and druids that is riveting, intriguing, and steeped in Celtic history. "The
Druid Isle" is a top pick for any fiction collection focusing on spiritual and new age
elements.

Love is such a sweet thing that many spend their lives searching for it, but never truly obtaining
it. "Life of a Star" tells the story of one such woman whose journey brings her through journeys
of her body, and journeys of her mind. Jane Unrue creates a truly riveting novel that brings new
perspective on the woman's search for love, and so much more. "Life of a Star" is a top pick for
literary fiction collections.

Sheltered from the world in her village, happiness seems uncertain. "Somewhere to Belong" tells
the story of Johanna Ilg, a woman of Main Amana, a Christian village with its own unique way.
When a new girl arrives in her town from the city of Chicago, she finds her view of the world
tipped upside down, being brought to new experiences from Berta. "Somewhere to Belong" is a
fascinating and thoughtful read, highly recommended.

The world never seems bright when everything around you is so dark. "Breathing, In Dust" is the
story of Tlaloc, a seventeen year old facing the challenges of his life in California's agricultural
land and all of the unique and unfortunate characters that seem to compose it. Loc faces his life
and tells his story, one of people trying to make their way and facing the failures of life along the
way, dragging Loc down as he tries to make a better life for himself. "Breathing, In Dust" is a top
pick for literary fiction collections focusing on the southwest.

The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

GEOSYNCHRON is Volume 3 of the 'Jump 225' trilogy, concluding a saga and therefore
recommended for science fiction collections possessing the prior volumes. It continues the story
of a civil war between Len Borda and Magan Kai Lee within the Defense and Wellness Council,
and offers a political thriller that takes the contenders around the world and into the sky as they
battle for the truth behind a revolt that ended humanity hundreds of years in the past. The tense
thriller is brought to gripping conclusion, here.

THE LOTUS EATERS provides an excellent blend of military science fiction and action as it
tells of Carrera, who has won a war that proves to be only the first in a series. With his only son
under fire and an enemy fleet hunting his submarines, he faces many dangers and challenges. A
riveting story of military encounters and romance emerges in this fine action-paced read.

TOR Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com

George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, Editors's WARRIORS (9780765320483, $27.99) is a
fine compendium of new fiction by top names in the science fiction field - Diana Gabaldon,
David Weber, Peter S. Beagle, to name just a few. Stories about warriors have been a literary
tradition, but these represent works from a dozen different publishers and genres on the theme of
a warrior - and each story appears here for the first time, making this an especially notable
collection. Norman Spinrad's HE WALKED AMONG US (9780765325846, $27.99) tells of a
hack agent who discovers Ralf, who claims to be from the future with an important message. In
his future, humanity is barely alive and the planet nearly dead. When a science fiction writer and
a New Age guru become involve, Ralf's powerful warning begins to see light in this fine account
of past/future connections.

When the police find themselves outclassed, they call on the elite for help. "Frost Moon: Book
One of the Skindancer Series" is set in a contemporary world of Magic. Dakota Frost is the best
magical tattoo artist in Atlanta, and when a serial killer guns for tattoo magic users, and the
police baffled, Dakota finds herself diving deeper into the magical underworld of Atlanta. "Frost
Moon" is a choice and fascinating pick that shouldn't be overlooked for fantasy readers.

Jack Williamson was a grand master of the science fiction genre. His original tales ranged from
full length novels to the short stories. The seventh volume in the outstanding Haffner Press series
of Jack Williamson's writings, "With Folded Hands... And Searching Mind, The Collected
Stories of Jack Williamson" is a 544-page compendium showcasing fifteen of his short stories
original published in the science fiction magazines of the 1940s and 50s and range from
"Backlash" (Astounding Science Fiction, August '41); "Conscience, LTD." (Unknown, August
'43); and "Cold Front Coming" (Blue Book, June '45); to "The Moon and Mr. Wick" (Comet,
Summer '50); "Hocus-Pocus Universe" (Science Stories, October '53); and "Beans" (The
Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, November '58). Enhanced with an informative
'Foreword' by science fiction author Robert Silverberg, and an 'Afterword' by Jack Williams, this
superbly organized and presented collection of short stories is a highly recommended addition to
community library Science Fiction collection -- and an absolutely 'must read' for the legions of
Jack Williamson fans. Those dedicated fans would also do well to visit the Haffner Press web
site at www.haffnerpress.com for a complete listing of all of their "Golden Age" of science
fiction authors, including the previous six volumes comprising their Jack Williamson series.

The Business Shelf

10 Steps to Successful Teams is a 'must' for any business library catering to project managers! It
uses a process-oriented approach to guide readers through building strong teams and includes
tools that help identify team roles, track progress, encourage creative brainstorming, and more.
No business or manager's library should be without this fine, creative guide honing in on the
exact pointers that make up a superior team effort!

REWORK tells how to succeed in business through a different path than other business books. It
shows how business plans can be harmful, why outside investors aren't always a good idea, and
why you need less to start a successful business than you think. It entirely 'reworks' the idea of
successful business pursuits, offering an alternative to the usual business guide that builds its
foundation on a business plan. An easy-going, inspirational approach makes REWORK a top
pick.

THINK BIG! AN ENTREPRENEUR'S GUIDE TO PARTNERING WITH LARGE COMPANIES offers keys to partnering with large companies to build business. Small business owners interested in growing their business through key partnerships learn all the basics: from approaching a large company for product development or expansion to potential pitfalls. Real-world case histories abound.

Vicky Ward is the only person outside Lehman who has the 2002/2003 diaries recorded by the
company's senior executives - and thus reveals a rare insider's story of experiences in THE
DEVIL'S CASINO: FRIENDSHIP, BETRAYAL, AND THE HIGH STAKES GAMES
PLAYED INSIDE LEHMAN BROTHERS (9780470540862, $27.95). Her interviews with many
previously off-the-record insiders and dealers offers new information and research to provide a
fine survey of Lehman Brothers and its two real leaders - one who brought it to power, the other
who dominated the company to its crash and burn. Any business library will find this engrossing.
Brian Solis' ENGAGE! THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR BRANDS AND BUSINESSES TO
BUILD, CULTIVATE, AND MEASURE SUCCESS IN THE NEW WEB (9780470571095,
$24.95) provides a fine survey of social media tools, considering what makes people listen and
how to understand the dynamics of true engagement. The focus on creating meaningful
conversations makes for a powerful survey perfect for entrepreneurs seeking more effective use
of business systems.

Becoming Your Own Business Coach is a top pick for any who want readers to become their
own instructional agents for change. Its premise is that the better you understand yourself, the
more successful an executive you'll become - and this provides clear, practical ways executives
can grow through introspection and self-awareness. His book challenges readers to become part
of their own professional growth - and offers pointers on the path to this awareness. Any business
library needs this.

You're playing a game whether you know it or not. "Your Career Game: How Game Theory Can
Help You Achieve Your Professional Goals" is a guide to navigating the challenges of one's
career, and how treating it like the competition it is can give one a leg up in the long run. Playing
a meta game with the other people out for one's job (and after landing the job!) can do much for
one's career success. "Your Career Game" is a top pick with a wealth of sage advice.

A price tag determines your profit, availability and can attract or push away prospective buyers.
"Smart Pricing: How Google, Priceline, and Leading Businesses Use Pricing Innovation for
Profitability" is a guide to the art of pricing and how it can radically change how a business
markets its products. Introducing new ideas to prices beyond what is considered conventional
wisdom, "Smart Pricing" is a must for any student breaking into marketing, and serves well as a
reference text for community and college library business collections.

When disaster happens, what you do next decides if it's a footnote or a great calamity. "Damage
Control: How to Tiptoe Away from the Smoking Wreckage of Your Latest Screw-Up With a
Minimum of Harm to Your Reputation" is a guide to making the least out of the worst. David
Eddie writes that no one is perfect, and the difference between a perennial screw up and someone
who isn't is how one responds to said screw ups. "Damage Control" is a choice pick for anyone
who freaks out over their real or imagined status as a screw up.

The Education Shelf

It's best to help kids who are falling behind before they fall behind. "Enhancing RTI: How to
Ensure Success with Effective Classroom Instruction & Intervention" is a discussion of RTI -
Response to Intervention programs as Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey urge readers to help
struggling learners by tailoring curriculums to better enable those who are lagging to catch up.
"Enhancing RTI" is a thoughtful and scholarly look at helping slower learners, and a top pick for
educational collections.

The American Dream, the right and legal way. "US Citizen, Yes, Preparing for Citizenship" is a
guide for immigrants who are trying to gain United States Citizenship through the American
citizenship tests that are given to question an immigrant's ability to assimilate and participate in
American society. With many practice tests to prepare, and information about activities to pursue
as well as a helpful audio CD, "US Citizen, Yes" is a must for anyone who is embracing
citizenship through the paperwork.

Measuring reading comprehension can be of certain challenge to many teachers. "Classroom
Reading Assessment: More Efficient Ways to View and Evaluate Your Readers" is an
educational resource dedicated to helping teachers better measure how well their students are
coming along in mastering the English language and their reading comprehension. With plenty of
activities and advice, "Classroom Reading Assessment" is an invaluable tool for any reading
teacher, highly recommended.

The second updated edition of THE CHILD'S WORLD provides a new, updated survey on
assessing children in need and blend practice, policy and theory to produce a fine guide to the
developmental needs of kids. Any practitioner in children's services who use the Framework
system needs this resource for assessment.

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwin.com

The second updated edition of Mandia Mentis, et. al.'s BRIDGING LEARNING: UNLOCKING
COGNITIVE POTENTIAL IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM (9781412969956, $28.95)
provides education collections with a winning survey of thinking skills and Instrumental
Enrichment programs and approaches. Fourteen core thinking skills discuss cognitive capacity
and problem solving, and introduces skills and examples for informal learning. Susan
Brooks-Young's TEACHING WITH THE TOOLS KIDS REALLY USE: LEARNING WITH
WEB AND MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES (9781412972758, $28.95) is written for educators who
wish to integrate mobile technologies into the classroom and covers the ethical use of such
technology. From an overview of Web 2.0 tools in K-12 settings to wiki, RSS feeds,
microblogging, and more, this is a 'must' for any teacher who would blend the latest technology
trends into a teaching effort. Nancy DeVries Guth and Tamie Pratt-Fartro's LITERACY
COACHING TO BUILD ADOLESCENT LEARNING (9781412972260, $26.95) tells readers
how to work with teachers to improve adolescent literary achievement. School districts are
focusing their attention on adolescent literacy skills and using coaches for support: this focuses
on five foundations of adolescent literacy and uses field experience to provide guidance on how
these literacy coaches work. John F. Eller and Sheila Eller's WORKING WITH AND
EVALUATING DIFFICULT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES (9781412958684, $26.95) tells how to
manage difficult school employees and is written by administrators well versed in various field
techniques and their pros and cons. From templates for developing improvement plans and
conversing with employees to strategies for working with all kinds of staff, this is a key
reference. Abby Barry Bergman, Judy Powers and Michael L. Pullen's THE SURVIVAL KIT
FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL (9781412972772, $43.95) packs in forms,
letters, checklists and more and is designed for busy administrators considering daily challenges
faced by all elementary school principals. From understanding NCLB requirements and new
technologies to becoming better leaders and evaluators, this offers tips for diverse settings and
school sizes, and is a solid principal's resource. Ron Nash's THE ACTIVE MENTOR:
PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORTING NEW TEACHERS (9781412980500, $28.95)
is a top pick and offers an essential key to new teacher retention and satisfaction. It shows how
educators can build mentoring programs and cover strategies, real-world applications and case
histories, and how professionals can promote teacher effectiveness. It's a fine, solid guide for any
education collection. USING THE PARALLEL CURRICULUM MODEL IN URBAN
SETTINGS GRADES K-8 by Sandra N. Kaplan, et.al. (9781412972185, $56.95) offers a
wonderful introduction to applications of the parallel curriculum model to this grade group,
offering lesson plan formats and keys to implementing them and tips on motivating students.
Teachers will find this an important, key acquisition. Diane Hodges' SEASON IT WITH FUN! A
YEAR OF RECOGNITION, FUN, AND CELEBRATIONS TO ENLIVEN YOUR SCHOOL
(9781412969086, $33.95) offers proven techniques designed to revitalize a school community.
From producing fantastic assemblies and introducing special celebrations within and outside the
classroom to blending new administrators into a school culture, this provides a top pick for any
school. Ian Jukes, Ted McCain, and Lee Crockett's UNDERSTANDING THE DIGITAL
GENERATION: TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE NEW DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
(9781449585594, $25.95) is a top pick for any collection strong in blending the basics of
childhood education with educational processes. New technologies affect nearly every facet of a
child's life - and this tells how to shift instructional patterns to incorporate these new teaching
tools. Diane Yendol-Hoppey and Nancy Fitchman Dana's POWERFUL PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT: BUILDING EXPERTISE WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF YOUR
SCHOOL (9781412979757, $31.95) provides an analysis of the critical elements needed for
schools to integrate processes that engage teachers and administrators. Professional development
takes on a new edge with a resource that shows how collaborative effort can lead to powerful
social school environments. Administrators, in particular, will relish this. Paul C. McCable and
Steven R. Shaw's PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS: CURRENT TOPICS AND INTERVENTIONS
FOR EDUCATORS (9781412968768, $33.95) provides a key go-to reference for psychiatric
health topics for school psychologists, counselors and administrators, and offers insights on the
most relevant psychiatric health issues for educators. From the use of atypical antipsychotics with
autism to the medical management of ADHD, this pairs case studies with strategies educators can
use. Karen D. Olsen's WHAT BRAIN RESEARCH CAN TEACH ABOUT CUTTING
SCHOOL BUDGETS (9781412980494, $33.95) offers a unique approach in applying brain
research to budget analysis. By focusing on analytical thinking over emotion or tradition or even
school politics, this provides keys to putting more effective strategies in place, and packs in
chapters showing how to develop and direct a more methodical process.

Go Green Rating Scale Handbook for Early Childhood Settings is a 'must' for any evaluating the
environmental health of a program. Use this book to evaluate a site or verify topics addressed in
the rating scale, to improve a score, or to inform parents about benefits of a green early childhood
program. A powerful key for any early childhood education library.

The Health/Medicine Shelf

Superbug: The Fatal Menace of MRSA discusses the history and threat of drug-resistant staph, an
epidemic that threatens the world. It's not just an occasional occurrence - it's a persistent,
planet-wide threat that has grown over fifty years and has spread into the food chain. It kills at
least 19,000 Americans yearly - and this examination represents some 200 interviews and
research conducted since 2006 on the topic. No health library should be without it!

The third updated edition of Drug Abuse Sourcebook is a fine reference for college-level health
collections, documenting the abuse of illegal substances and prescription medicines alike. Facts
about commonly abused drugs and causes of addiction blend medical with social issues while an
invaluable section on strategies that work for prevention make this a top reference.

Diabetes presents many new challenges, especially in pregnancy. "Balancing Pregnancy with
pre-Existing Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby" is a guide to dealing with pregnancy as a
diabetic and the issues one will face as a diabetic mother. From planning the pregnancy, to the
dealing with the many stages to facing the unfortunate of miscarriages and the success of birth,
"Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-Existing Diabetes" is an informative and highly useful pick
which shouldn't be missed.

Walking is healthy exercise in itself, but throwing some technique into it can enhance it. "Nordic
Walking for Total Fitness: Your Path to a Lean, Strong, and Fit Physique" is a guide to Nordic
walking and its many health benefits. Outlining six workouts that one can use to enhance one's
health, each with different focuses,. With plenty of tips for tweaking one's routine for better form
and execution, "Nordic Walking for Total Fitness" is an ideal pick for those who want to add
more vigor to health walks.

Nothing is perfect, but our health care system is one of the furthest things from it. "Health Care
Meltdown: Confronting the Myths and Fixing Our Failing System" offers Robert H. LeBow, a
physician in his own right, as he offers his own piece of mind to the many problems today's
health care system faces, such as millions being uninsured, the rising cost of simply getting sick,
and how it's destroying lives across the country. Suggesting his own ideas for solutions, "Health
Care Meltdown" is a choice pick for those seeking another voice in the health care debate.

It isn't healthy to recover from an injury doing nothing. "The Core Concepts of Occupational
Therapy: A Dynamic Framework for Practice" is a guide to the concepts and nuances of
occupational therapy, stating how such tasks can do wonders for helping individuals recover
from injury. Discussing how to pick the right occupational therapy for the problem, motivation,
performance and creation, and so much more, "The Core Concepts of Occupational Therapy"
belongs in any health collection focusing on more specialized healing techniques.

A well fed child is a happy child and a healthy child. "Rethinking Nutrition: Connecting Science
and Practice in Early Childhood Settings" discusses pediatric diet and its importance in
childhood development. Early childhood diet is highly vital in patterning eating habits for the
future, and as well as giving a child everything they need to grow to their fullest physical and
mental potential. "Rethinking Nutrition" is a fascinating read, well worth adding to any health
studies collection.

A good mind needs a good body to be apart of. "Mental Health, Naturally: The Family Guide to
Holistic Care for a Healthy Mind and Body" is designed around helping parents help their
families keep up their mental health, and what a parent can do to encourage good mental health
throughout their lives. Exercise, good sleep habits, a good diet, and much more are what a parent
can do to keep their children happy and develop good outlooks for life. "Mental Health,
Naturally" is a choice pick for any concerned parent who wants to keep their child healthy on
multiple fronts.

The Economics Shelf

Saving and prudence seem to be dying values in today's world. "Money Assassins: How They
Stole Your Financial Freedom and How You Can Get it Back" is a guide for those who want to
stay out of debt and be profitable in their lives when today's world seems to be out to eliminate
anything you save and encourage spending well beyond one's means. With tips on keeping ahead
of those who want to strip you of your wealth, "Money Assassins" will prove to be a highly
valuable read.

The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Acting is a passion for many, but it often fails to pay the bills. "Acting for Love & Money:
Connecting the Craft to the Industry" is a guide to how to become an actor who lives doing what
he loves and actually gets paid for their talents. With tips on getting that first break, settling for
something that may not be ideal but puts food on the table, making friends, nailing that audition,
and so much more, "Acting for Love & Money" is a choice pick for the actor who wants to act,
not bus tables.

The green screen is a versatile technique, and can be used wonderfully, if you use it well. "The
Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques" is a guide to the green screen and
how to use the method to its fullest power. Setting up the shot, how to make post-production
flow as smoothly as possible, troubleshooting, helping actors with an environment that's not their
yet, Jeff Foster, an expert in production does well in going all out in helping readers master the
shooting techniques of the green screen. "The Green Screen Handbook" is a choice pick and a
reference that should be on hand for anyone producing movies or television.

The Holy Grail of the American film industry is the production of a massively financially
successful movie. Such productions are called 'blockbusters'. The collaborative work of Sheldon
Hall (Senior Lecturer, Stage and Screen Studies, Sheffield Hallam University) and Steve Neale
(Professor of English, University of Exeter), "Epics, Spectacles, and Blockbusters: A Hollywood
History" is the newest addition to Wayne State University Press' outstanding 'Contemporary Film
and Television Series'. This 363-page compendium presents a comprehensive and detailed
history of the large-scale, high-cost movie from the beginning of movie-making in the 1890s
down to the present day. The genres of such films range from comic book adaptations, to biblical
epics, to animated features, to science fiction extravaganzas, and more. Chronological organized,
the impact of technological developments on movie making is fully integrated into this superbly
written and scholarly history, making "Epics, Spectacles, And Blockbusters" an invaluable and
core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Hollywood History &
Film reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Today's enduring popularity and success of female hosted television talk shows is due to a
woman by the name of Ruth Lyons. She was a pioneer in radio and television broadcasting
whose audiences in the 1960s were block-buster successes, making her justifiably considered as
being the single most influential housewife in America. Her amazing story is told in wonderful
detailed by Michael Banks in "Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV", a
260-page biography of a woman who, in her day, was as popular and influential as Oprah
Winfrey and Martha Stewart are in ours. Superbly written and totally engaging from first page to
last, "Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV" is strongly recommended
for both academic and community library 20th Century American Biography collections.

The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Baseball cards have been around for almost as long as the game itself. The collaborative project
of Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala, and with the assistance of Lou Blasi, "The T206 Collection:
The Players & Their Stories" is an impressive 224-page compendium featuring beautifully
reproduced images of the early baseball card T206 series featuring 393 players. Enhancing this
outstanding collection of 500 baseball cards, each of which is flawlessly reproduced in full color,
"The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories" includes succinct biographies of all the T206
players, as well as player anecdotes revealing the earliest days and evolution of baseball. Of
special note is the informed and informative chapter on baseball card grading and valuations
making "The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories" an especially valued and valuable
addition to both academic, and community library collections -- and an absolute 'must' for all
dedicated baseball card enthusiasts.

Long considered to be the 'bible' of antiquarian and collectible timepieces, this 2010 edition of
"Complete Price Guide to Watches" is fully updated with new price information for literally
thousands of entries. The collaborative effort of Richard E. Gilbert, Tom Engle, and Cooksey
Shugart, "Complete Price Guide to Watches No. 30" is a 1,216 page compendium listing 10,350
watches, and is enhanced with 7,850 black-and-white illustrations and covering both American
and Europe pocket watches and wrist watches. Of special note are the profusion of tips, history,
terminology, and other specialized information useful for both the dealer and the collector.
making "Complete Price Guide to Watches No. 30" a core addition to personal, professional,
academic, and community library Antiques/Collectibles reference collections.

In "Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy Identification - Values - Lapidary Uses", author
Patti Polk draws upon her more than twenty years as a skilled lapidary artist and gem cutting
expertise and experience to compile a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 272-page
compendium of superbly organized and presented minerals for amateur 'rockhounds' and
professional collectors alike. Each entry is enhanced with detailed information about that
particular gem or mineral's characteristics. "Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy
Identification - Values - Lapidary Uses" is more than a simple encyclopedic presentation of
assorted gems and minerals as Patti Polk also provides informed and informative information on
what these gems and minerals are, as well as their uses for lapidary and display. Of special note
is the entry on 'Buying and Selling Rocks, Minerals, and Gemstones'. Providing an illustrated
wealth of information and examples, "Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy Identification -
Values - Lapidary Uses" will proved an enduringly popular and valued addition to personal,
professional, academic, and community library reference collections.

The Cookbook Shelf

ABSOLUTELY CHOCOLATE: IRRESISTIBLE EXCUSES TO INDULGE packs in over fifty
color photos as it provides not just a chocolate-filled recipe guide, but insights on how chocolate
is made, how to choose it, when to use cocoa and when chocolate, and much more. Over a
hundred recipes accompany the photos and tips making this a winner for any general lending
library.

Luca Invernizzi Tettoni's fine full-page color photos compliment this special treatment SRI
LANKAN COOKING, a recommendation for any lending library strong in Asian representation.
Sri Lankan cooking is often blended into more general India cookbooks, so it's a pleasure to see a
volume that stands alone. From Butter Rice and Crispy Dosai Pancakes to Prawns in a Coconut
Curry Gravy, this is an excellent pick.

JUSTIN WILSON'S EASY COOKIN' packs in over a hundred recipes for classic home cooking
and comes from a chef who was always seeking ways to make his cooking easier, using flavored
salts and powers instead of peeling and chopping onions and garlic, and focusing on maximum
flavor for minimum effort. His book offers delightful access to any collection catering to
would-be cooks.

Color photos pair with low-calorie recipes and mouth-watering flavor in Slim & Scrumptious, a
fine survey of new ideas to please even picky eaters. These are quick, versatile dishes intended
for the family with many picky eaters and offers low-calorie yet tasty adaptations of classic, rich
foods.

Pies needn't be time-consuming pains - not with Pillsbury Easy As Pie, which pairs lay-flat
binding for ease of cooking with tested pie dishes - up to 140 - ranging from basic everyday pies
to holiday specialties. Full-page color photos of each finished result accompanies recipes which
are very simple, making for a top pick cookbook any general lending library must have.

CHOCOLATE CAKES packs in fifty cakes for all occasions with fine color photos by Ann
Stratton accompanying tube cakes, rolled cakes, layer cakes and more. The range of cakes and
their relative ease of production make this a fine general lending library choice, highly
recommended for readers who want a focus on chocolate cakes only!

Complete Guide to Making Your Own Wine At Home is a fine pick for any would-be home
winemaker just starting out. From distillation ingredients to producing home wine either on a
limited scale for a personal collection or for starting a home winery, this covers all the basics and
even provides recipes. Home winemakers will find the specific information to be a great starting
point to successful production.

On a Dollar a Day
Christopher Greenslate and Kerri Leonard
Hyperion
114 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9781401310189, $14.99 www.hyperionbooks.com

ON A DOLLAR A DAY: COUPLE'S UNLIKELY ADVENTURES IN EATING IN AMERICA
explores what happens when two high school teachers get fed up with giant grocery bills and
decide to feed themselves on one dollar each per day. Their discoveries include tips on how to eat
on, $4.13 a day (the food stamp allotment) and offer insights on food politics, from how
companies 'short size' packages so you pay more for less, and how groceries auction off foods
past their 'sell by' dates.

Good cooks know bulk ingredients save money - but they also pose a problem once the initial
recipe is used: how to use up all the bulk? This book offers recipes for common bulk-buy foods,
from sun-dried tomatoes to various cheeses, meats, and canned goods. It packs in color photos
and appealing dishes and is a top pick for any lending library where cooks frequent bulk-buy
stores for top bargains.

The Passover meal is a culinary tradition that presents something of a challenge to the
health-conscious kitchen cook. That's why the "Passover Lite Kosher Cookbook" by Gail
Ashkanazi-Hankin is such a welcome addition to family and community cookbook collections.
Showcasing low-fat and low-cholesterol dishes suitable for the eight days of the Jewish holiday
of Passover, the recipes range from Sweet Orange Matzah Brie; Cucumber Radish Salad;
Smoked Whitefish Frittada; and Vegetable Pizza; to Broccoli Knishes; Candied Sweet Potato
Tzimmes; Miniature Passover Bagels; and a No-Cholesterol Chocolate Chiffon Cake. While the
focus is on appropriate dishes to serve as part of Passover meals, these are nutritious, delicious,
and easy-to-prepare soups, salads, entrees, and desserts that would be well received at the family
dining table any time of the year!

New Orleans enjoys a culinary legacy that includes its Spanish, Cajun, African-American, Native
American, and French roots. Collaboratively compiled and presented by native New Orleans fine
food enthusiasts Stacey Meyer and Troy Gilbert, "New Orleans Kitchens: Recipes from the Big
Easy Best Restaurants" showcases 216-pages of dishes selected from the menus of the very best
restaurants that this Louisiana community has to offer. Ranging from Proscuitto and Melon Salad
with Ricotta Salata; Louisiana Blue Crab Cakes with Mango Ancho and Chipotle Chutney;
Lobster Bisque; and Lady Cream Pea, Andouille Sausage and Kale Soup; to Sauteed Catfish with
Louisiana Shrimp and Jalapeno Slaw; and Braised Greens with Bacon and Onion, each recipe is
'kitchen cook friendly' with complete lists of ingredients and easy-to-follow instruction. Superbly
enhanced with paintings and color photography throughout, "New Orleans Kitchens: Recipes
from the Big Easy Best Restaurants" will prove to be an especially welcome and popular addition
to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!

Local farmer's markets have grown increasingly popular and accessible with those who want the
freshest seasonal ingredients at the lowest possible 'carbon footprint' possible. "Eating Local: The
Cookbook Inspired by America's Farmers" by cook book author Janet Fletcher (in cooperation
with the successful Californian restaurant Sur La Table) is a 320-page compendium packed with
thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes utilizing farm-fresh seasonal ingredients found in local
community farmer's markets. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with color
photography, the recipes range from Grilled Eggplant Cannelloni with Ricotta and Prosciutto; to
Pickled Yellow Wax Benas with Fresh Dill; to Home-Dried Tomatoes in Herbed Olive Oil;
Skillet-Cooked Creamer Potatoes with Rosemary; to Peach and Boysenberry Cobbler. Of special
note are the succinct introductions to showcase farms representing the kind of 'family farm'
agriculture that is the source of what local farmer's markets have to offer grateful communities,
making "Eating Local: The Cookbook Inspired by America's Farmers" a particularly appropriate
and highly recommended addition to personal and public library cookbook collections.

A profusely and beautifully illustrated 223-page compendium of authentic Italian family culinary
recipes, "Simple And Genuine" showcases the meal-time magic of traditional Italian fare coming
out of Mamma Agata's lifetime of kitchen cooking for her family and friends. Combining
simplicity with elegance, the recipes range from Parmigiana de melanzane (Eggplant
Parmigiana); to Pasta con broccoli e formaggio affumicato (Broccoli and Smoked Cheese Pasta;
to Arrosto de maiale (Roasted Pork Loin); to Pizza fritta (Fried Pizza). A veritable cornucopia of
meal time menu items that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite, "Simple And Genuine"
truly lives up to the promise of its title and is especially recommended for personal, family, and
community library cookbook collections.

Low-carb cooking expert and the author of seven Low-Carb cookbooks, Dana Carpender has
compiled 1001 of her very best low-carb recipes laid out with complete listings of ingredients
and 'kitchen cook friendly' step-by-step preparation instructions. The result is a 576-page
cookbook that will prove to be a never ending source of culinary inspiration for anyone seeking
low-carb meals that will please even the most gourmet of palates and satisfy even the most
demanding of appetites. From Warm Brie with Sticky Nuts; Sunflower Parmesan Crackers;
Italian Sausage Soup; and Fried Brussels Sprouts; to Slow Cooker Chicken Guadeloupe;
Maple-Glazed Corned Beef with Vegetables; Cranberry Barbecue Sauce; and Cocoa-Peanut
Logs, "1001 Low-Carb Recipes: Hundreds of Delicious Recipes from Dinner to Dessert That Let
You Live Your Low-Carb Lifestyle and Never Look Back" truly lives up to the promise of its
title and is an enthusiastically recommended as an inexpensive and expansive addition to
personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!

The Amish community is noted for the simplicity of their family-centered and devout lifestyle.
That elegant simplicity clearly extends to their cuisine as evidenced by the recipes assembled in
"The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook: Plainly Delicious Recipes from the Simple Life", a
spiral bound 272-page compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ranging from
Buttermilk Biscuits with Sausage Gravy; Honey Oatmeal Bread; Mennonite Stew; and Baked
Acorn Squash with Hamburger Filling; to Busy Day Ham Casserole; German Meatballs with
Sauerkraut; Amish Vanilla Pie; and Crackletop Molasses Cookies. Each recipe is clearly put
forth with a complete list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions allowing even the most
novice of kitchen cooks to successful prepare and serve this dishes which are as nutritious as they
are delicious -- and suitable for any and all dining occasions. "The Homestyle Amish Kitchen
Cookbook: Plainly Delicious Recipes from the Simple Life" is a very highly recommended
addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

A healthy mind in a healthy body is the common goal of us all. The collaborative work of whole
food cooking experts Jillayne Clements and Michelle Stewart, "The Diet Rebels Cookbook:
Eating Clean and Green" is a 288-page compendium of basic information about the impact foods
have on our health, as well as pertinent information and invaluable tips on eating and cooking
healthy. Of special note is the provision of a 'Complete One-Year Food Storage List'. Thoroughly
'user friendly', "The Diet Rebels Cookbook: Eating Clean and Green" is packed with useable
instructions for everything from sprouting grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes; to basic dairy
recipes, natural sweeteners, and the basics of making stocks and broths. The recipes range from a
Spinach Cranberry Salad, to Hummus Wraps, to a Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce, to Homemade
Popcorn, to Pumpkin Cake. A veritable cornucopia of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, easy to
prepare dishes for any and all dining occasions, "The Diet Rebels Cookbook: Eating Clean and
Green" will make a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and
community library cookbook collections for the health conscious consumer.

Creating meals especially suited for just two people calls for a particularly specialized familiarity
with the culinary arts. That's why Warren Caterson's "Table For Two: The Cookbook For
Couples" is especially appropriate. This 272-page compendium is a cornucopia of palate
pleasing, appetite satisfying, gourmet quality recipes suitable for any two-person dining occasion
be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. After succinctly informative opening chapters on measurements,
cooking terms, and ingredients, there are 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step recipes for soups,
salads, side dishes, and main entrees (including seafood, poultry, beef, pork, and lamb). Of
special note are the chapters devoted to vegetarian dishes, desserts, and what to do with leftovers!
From Fillet of Sole with Shrimp Sauce; Grilled Tuna Steak; Chicken and Mushrooms Florentine;
and Beef Burgundy; to Lamb Curry; Vegetable Biryani; Green Beans with Water Chestnuts; and
Chilled Mixed Fruit in White Whine, "Table For Two" is an outstanding recipe collection and a
welcome addition to both personal and community library cookbook shelves.

The World History Shelf

Afghanistan has been anything but a pure success story for American forces. "Afghanistan:
Graveyard of Empires, a New History of the Borderland" is a recent history of the chaos in
Afghanistan and the tumultuous nature of the region, and how America seems to be falling into
the same rut other nations have faced in trying to occupy and control the region. Looking at
history and the problems that face modern Afghanistan outside problematic forces, "Afghanistan"
is an insightful read for anyone who wants to understand the problems America faces in the
country.

All folk lore has basis in reality, but who was the real Robin Hood? "Robin Hood: the Unknown
Templar" looks at the possible reality that paints Robin Hood as a member of the Knights
Templar, the famous religious order of knights in the middle ages. But how did he become
known as the freedom loving outlaw of the Crusades period? "Robin Hood: The Unknown
Templar" is a fascinating study of the legend of Robin Hood and who the man truly was.

Spain has had quite the decline from a super power of the colonial era. "Anarchism and the City:
Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Barcelona 1898-1937" examines the political turmoil that
Spain faced spanning from the time of the Spanish-American War to the early grumblings of
World War II. Focusing on Barcelona, one of Spain's largest cities, Chris Ealham paints a picture
of a country in turmoil well. "Anarchism and the City" is a strong addition to any history
collection.

While some endure and hope for the best, there were those who fought. "Against All Hope:
Resistance in the Nazi Concentration Camps: 1938-1945" tells the story of the Jews who resisted
their oppressors even in hopeless situations where they were unarmed against the German forces
holding them captive. Hermann Langbein tells his own story of standing up in the final days of
the war in the notorious camp of Auschwitz, and how he and others he knew made their stand
even in hopeless situations. "Against All Hope" is a fascinating and uplifting read that shouldn't
be missed by history readers.

The development of fortified castles and walled towns created a form of offensive warfare known
as the siege. Hostile forces would surround the castle or protected town and prevent anyone from
entering or leaving, and all the while trying to break down the castle's defenses or break through
the walls shielding the town from assault. Siege warfare became a focus for military
technological advances both in equipment, weaponry, and strategy. "A History of the Late
Medieval Siege, 1200-1500" by medieval fortification expert Peter Purton is a 528-page
compendium providing a detailed history from 450 A.D. to 1200 A.D. of siege warfare from the
5th century Mongol conquests in Europe and Asia, to the 13th century 'golden age' of siege
warfare sophistication, to the changes in siege warfare brought about by the introduction of gun
powder and canon in the 15th century. Enhanced with the inclusion of a useful time line, an
substantial glossary, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "A History of the
Late Medieval Siege, 1200-1500" is an impressively informed and informative work that is
especially recommended for both academic and community library Military History reference
collections.

The Crafts Shelf

The making of jewelry is an increasingly popular home craft. In "Crystal Brilliance: Making
Designer Jewelry with Crystal Beads", professional jewelry designer Anna Elizabeth Draeger has
compiled a superbly organized and presented, profusely illustrated, 80-page compendium of
thirty different do-it-yourself projects utilizing the impressive brilliance and many colored hues
of Swarovski crystals. The project designs range from the Classic to the Romantic, from the
Geometric to the Organic. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Crystal Brilliance: Making Designer
Jewelry with Crystal Beads" will enable even the most novice jewelry maker to produce elegant
pieces that suitable for any and all occasions, making it an enthusiastically recommended
addition to personal and community library Crafts & Hobbies instructional resource
collections.

Taken from the pages of BeadStyle Magazine, this is the sixth volume in the Easy Beading series
and features 248 beading projects, each with clear, 'user friendly', step-by-step illustrated
instructions. These projects are organized and grouped into the categories of Gemstones;
Crystals; Metal and Chain; Mixed Media; Pearls; Glass and Ceramic. Enhanced with a Beader's
Glossary' and a basic guide to beading techniques for novice beaders, "Easy Beading: Volume 6"
is strongly recommended for personal, professional, and community library instructional
reference collections. Also very highly recommended are the five other volumes in this
outstanding series: "Easy Beading: The Best Projects from the First Year of BeadStyle
Magazine" (9780871162175, $29.95); "Easy Beading, Volume 2: The Best Projects from the
Second Year of BeadStyle Magazine" (9780871162267, $29.95); "Easy Beading, Volume 3"
(9780871162410, $29.95); "Easy Beading, Vol. 4: The Best Projects from the Fourth Year of
BeadStyle Magazine" (9780871162632, $29.95); and "Easy Beading Volume 5"
(9780871162885, $29.95).

The Woodworking Shelf

Civil War re-enactments continue to increase in popularity. A key to those re-enactments is
authenticity, not only in uniforms and equipment, but in such ancillary items as ammunition
boxes, camp tables and stools, officer field desks, tent pegs, candle lanterns, and even games.
That is what makes A. J. Hamler's "Civil War Woodworking: 17 Authentic Projects for
Woodworkers and Reenactors" such an valued and valuable instructional guide for the dedicated
woodworker and re-enactor. Each of the featured seventeen woodworking projects is superbly
illustrated with clear, concise and easy to follow instructions. Each individual project begins with
a complete description of the item, including both its overall dimensions and individual
component dimensions. Superbly illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'user friendly', the "Civil
War Woodworking: 17 Authentic Projects for Woodworkers and Reenactors" is a unique and
enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community
library Woodworking and Civil War Studies reference collections.

The Science Shelf

The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology uses black and white comics to explain complex
science, making this more accessible to students who would find the traditional approaches
challenging. Join characters Ami and Rin as they journey through the body, learning about
protein synthesis, cell division, and genetics along the way. The blend of fiction action with
science makes this an appealing, fine read especially recommended for any students struggling
with traditional molecular biology teachings.

The Biology of Small Mammals represents the first college-level exploration of the lives of small
mammals in decades, and comes from a mammalogist who provides discussions of a range of
small mammals around the world. In discussing behavior and species, this collection outlines
how the size difference provides different physiological and ecological challenges than larger
mammals. Any college-level natural history library needs this survey.

DECODING REALITY: THE UNIVERSE AS QUANTUM INFORMATION comes from a
quantum science researcher who writes about the nature of reality and weightless information.
From the nature of information to thoughts about the quantum world's operations, this is an
excellent survey for any college-level physics collection.

EINSTEIN'S TELESCOPE: THE HUNT FOR DARK MATTER AND DARK ENERGY IN
THE UNIVERSE provides a powerful scientific examination of one of Einstein's most intriguing
theori4es: that gravitational distortions would allow space to act as a telescope more powerful
than humans could build. Cosmologists are using his technique to detect revolutionary realms -
and EINSTEIN'S TELESCOPE provides a fine blend of astronomy theory and practice as it tells
of the concept and how it's being applied. Both science holdings and general-interest libraries
will find this a thorough, lively account.

Collaborative designed, written and compiled by the team of Mickey Sarquis (Director, Center
for Chemistry Education & Terrific Science Programs, Miami University, Middletown, Ohio);
Lyn Hogue (Center for Chemistry Education, Miami University); Susan Hershberger (Center for
Chemistry Education, Miami University); Jerry Sarquis (Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, Miami University); and John Williams (Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, Miami University), The two volume "Chemistry With Charisma" is specially
designed for use with middle and high school science students. Volume one features twenty-four
lessons that will hold students attention in the classroom while demonstrating through
informative and interesting experiments basic principles of chemistry. Volume two is a
compilation of an addition twenty-eight lessons. Together these volumes comprise an
outstanding addition to supplement any middle or high school science class curriculum with their
illustrated, step-by-step instructions for both teacher and student. Each lesson fully complies with
National Science Education Standards, listing the relevant standards for grades 5 - 12. Also
highly recommended for home schooling, "Chemistry With Charisma: Volumes 1 & 2" will
prove to be an invaluable academic and community library instructional resource collection.

The Needlecraft Shelf

Knitting Sweaters from the Top Down provides a fine guide to top-down sweater-knitting and
tells how to knit a sweater in one piece, with no seams. Easy techniques allow knitters to adjust a
garment as they go, offering over twenty chic projects that can also be used as design templates
for further pattern-free work. A fine pick for any knitter's library, this takes a far different
approach than most.

Doreen L. Marquart's SATURDAY STYLE: CASUAL KNITS FOR WEEKEND WEAR
(9781564779182, $26.99) offers a fine selection of casual knit projects that can go with jeans or
work clothes alike. From yoke jackets and classy simple summer tees to pullovers and cardigans,
full-page color photos accompany fine knitter's guides perfect for any lending library looking for
something different. The staff of That Patchwork Place offers A BAKER'S DOZEN: 13 QUILTS
FROM JELLY ROLLS, LAYER CAKES, AND MORE (9781564779755, $21.99), a fine
quilter's survey focusing on quilting with precut fabrics. Thirteen quilts designed by the staff
offers a range of uses for fat quarters, and presents Jelly Rolls, 5" charm squares, and more.
Cathy Wierzbicki's GEOMETRIC GEMS: QUILTS FROM DIAMONDS, CIRCLES AND
SQUARES (9781564779823, $18.99) offers a fascinating, different perspective on producing
new quilt designs using angles. The complex-looking results are actually pleasing to the eye and
easier to produce than one would think, pairing large-sized color photos of completed quilts with
step-by-step instructions any quilter will enjoy.

Built By Wendy Dresses offers a fast, easy way to put together custom-fit dresses offering over
twenty patterns and DIY dress designs that are easy to sew and in high style. All the featured
dresses are based on three basic dress shapes, and offer full-size patterns along with step-by-step
instructions on using them. Not suitable for lending libraries - but beginning sewers must have
this!

Adaptable Quilting Designs provides over forty designs adaptable to tricky spaces on quilts, from
setting triangles to sashings, using templates formatted for ease of reducing or enlarging. Each
pattern is shown with two or more variations and over 100 ideas for both hand and machine
quilting, with dozens of color photos creating a powerful pick for any home quilter.

In addition to their utilitarian value in keeping folks warm at night in their beds, the quilt quickly
became a means of artistic expression by the women who made them. Those utilitarian and
artistic values continue to be of importance for each new generation of quilt makers. That's why
"Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts: 23 Original Quilt Designs" by quilting expert
Kaffe Fassett (a fabric designer for Rowan Patchwork and Quilting and the primary knitwear
designer for Rowan Yarns) will prove to be a popular addition to personal and community library
Needlecraft instructional reference collections. Organized into six basic shape sections (squares;
rectangles; triangles; diamonds; quarter circles; and circles), the patchwork designs are profusely
illustrated enabling even the most novice of needlecrafters to successfully reproduce them. Of
special note is the clear and accessible information provided on Basic Techniques and Templates
making "Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts" an invaluable resource for making spectacular quilts
out of ordinary shaped cloth patches.

The Art Shelf

How to Draw and Paint Dragons is an extraordinarily beautiful self-teaching art book. Budding
artists of all skill and experience levels will learn the basics of drawing and painting, with a focus
on these legendary creatures. From researching the anatomy of natural creatures for a guideline,
to selecting one's tools and equipment (whether physical or digital media), to effectively applying
light, color and texture, to applying the power of storytelling in one's art and more, How to Draw
and Paint Dragons is filled cover to cover with invaluable information for aspiring artists
everywhere. The example illustrations are in gorgeous full color; any dragon lover will find How
to Draw and Paint Dragons a joy to page through regardless of personal artistic inclination.
Highly recommended.

An art instructor at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, and at the
Royal College of Art in London, Sarah Simblet draws upon her many years of experience and
expertise in "Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants" to create a
superbly organized and presented 256-page, fully illustrated compendium of step-by-step
illustrations and instructions that will enable even the most novice of art students to produce
accurate drawings of plants ranging from roots, stems and leaves, to flowers, fruit, cones, and
seeds. Of special note is the opening chapters providing insights into the elements of such
images, as well as to the materials and basic techniques required for producing them. Thoroughly
'user friendly', "Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants" is especially
recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Art Instruction
reference collections. Also highly recommended are two previously published art instruction
manuals by Sarah Simblet: "Sketch Book for the Artist" (9780756608163, $30.00) and "Anatomy
for the Artist" (9780789480453, $40.00).

The late Eyvind Earle was an American artist whose craftsmanship and skill produced museum
quality artworks. He was also a gifted poet and writer. Long out of print and now presented in a
new third edition, "The Complete Graphics of Eyvind Earle" is the first of a two volume set
showcasing the man, his work, and his career. This 360-page compendium superbly presents 160
full color images of his artwork and is enhanced with the inclusion of an autobiography, as well
as samples and examples of his writings and poems. Of special note is the chronology provided
of his remarkable careers. An ideal introduction to the life and accomplishments of Eyvind Earle,
"The Complete Graphics of Eyvind Earle" is a superbly crafted and produced publication that is
strongly recommended for professional, academic, and community library American Art History
reference collections. Also highly recommended for such collections are four other volumes
encompassing the work of this remarkable and diversely talented artist: "The Complete Graphics
of Eyvind Earle: Volume II"; "The Complete Christmas Card Art of Eyvind Earle"; "Horizon
Bound on a Bicycle: The Autobiography of Eyvind Earle"; and "The Poems of Eyvind Earle" --
all of which are available on the Eyvind Earle Publishing web site at
www.eyvindearle.com/Books.aspx

The artists and craftsmen of ancient Egypt produced enduring works of exquisite beauty. The
level of their artistry was known and appreciated by their contemporaries for a span covering
some four thousand years from the ivory combs of Predynastic Eygpt, to the distinctive statuary
of the Old Kingdom, to the impressive tomb paintings of the New Kingdom, to the painted
portraits and jewelry surviving from the Egypt of the Ptolemaic and Roman eras. "Ancient
Egyptian Art: Visual Encyclopedia" is a profusely and superbly illustrated 352-page compendium
providing a chronologically oriented antiquarian art history of Egypt, replete with examples
drawn from museum collections from around the world. Informed and informative, "Ancient
Egyptian Art: Visual Encyclopedia" is enhanced with succinct introductions and surveys of the
distinctive eras comprising Egyptian history, major archaeological achievements; a chronology,
and a glossary. A seminal work of impressive scholarship and remarkable beauty, "Ancient
Egyptian Art: Visual Encyclopedia" is an ideal and highly prized addition to personal,
professional, academic, and community library Art History and Egyptology reference collections
and supplemental reading lists.

Jean-Paul Goude was an artist who created images to sell products for the Parisian department
store 'Galeries Lafayette'. "The Goude Touch: A Ten-Year Campaign for Galeries Lafayette" is a
224-page, richly and profusely illustrated compendium showcasing his unorthodox images and
features more than one hundred working documents that include preliminary sketches, drawings,
and final images -- including ones that were featured in billboard advertising. Innovative,
iconoclastic, and a creatively gifted artist with a sense of humor, "The Goude Touch" is an ideal
introduction to the artist and the best of his work, making it a highly recommended addition to
personal, academic, and community library Contemporary Art History reference collections and
supplemental reading lists.

The Business of Being an Artist, fourth edition
Daniel Grant
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. Suite 510, New York NY 10010
9781581156737, $27.50 www.allworth.com

Now in a newly expanded and updated fourth edition, The Business of Being an Artist provides a
fine instruction manual on the 'art' of business survival, expanding on Daniel Grant's classic
reference for developing a career as a successful artist. New sections on how to market and sell
art in a weak economy supplement tips on marketing online, creating a website and blog, and
more. A fine pick for any aspiring artist who would go pro, this is filled with art-specific business
practices.

ART OF THE MIDDLE EAST: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART OF THE ARAB
WORLD AND IRAN is packed in history and artistic expression and provides a fine panoramic
portrait of art history in the Arab world today. Modern and contemporary art from the mid-1950s
to modern times are provided in a powerful survey highly recommended for any college-level
arts or Middle East history holding: it's unparalleled in scope and presentation and packs in full
color, dramatic images and plenty of detailed history.

BREAKING GROUND: A CENTURY OF CRAFT ART IN WESTERN NEW York is the first
book to explore the history of craft art in the region, packing in vintage and modern photos along
with a history of the works of early pioneers and modern artists alike. BREAKING GROUND
covers the region because in the early 1900s it was a hub of the Arts and Crafts Movement - and
key to understanding the evolution of American art as a whole.

RADIANT OILS: GLAZING TECHNIQUES FOR PAINTINGS THAT GLOW tells painters
how to create eye-popping still lifes by using transparent color in oil painting. Her focus on
layering over mixing colors offers insights into increasing luminosity and texture and offers
step-by-step instruction packed with color photos of every step.

The Anthropology Shelf

How did mankind evolve from grunting at one another to having thousands of different
languages across the globe? "Adam's Tongue: How Humans Made Language, How Language
Made Humans" is a discussion of the origins of language, casting an investigative eye onto the
animal kingdom and how they communicate with one another. Composed with formal
knowledge but an informal flare, "Adam's Tongue" is a fascinating read on language which will
captivate anyone intrigued with how humans became what they are today.

The Judaic Studies Shelf

Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world. "Crash Course in Jewish History: From
Abraham to Modern Israel" is a text analyzing the history of Judaism from its earliest days, how
it came to be, how it gained its followers, and how it sired the start of the Abrahamic faith. Even
today, Judaism's principles are shared throughout much of the world by both Jews and non-Jews.
Insightful, thought provoking and riveting reading, "Crash Course in Jewish History" is an
absolute must for any library collection focusing on religious history.

Driven from their homeland, the idea of a Jewish Nation never truly died. "King of the Jews: The
Origins of the Jewish Nation" delves into the idea of the Jewish nation and its leadership,
spanning from biblical times to how these figures and ideas still hold powerful place in today's
Israel. "King of the Jews" is a strong pick for historical selections discussing the idea of the
Jewish nation and its relationship with Israel.

Some things are lightning rods of controversy. Un'taneh Tokef is one of them. "Who By Fire,
Who By Water" is a collection of Rabbis and other Jewish thinkers as they converge and offer
their own thoughts and opinions on the controversial piece of Jewish literature and what it means
in regard to the Jewish new year. For those seeking a fascinating look into one of the hotly
debated topics of modern Judaism, "Who By Fire, Who By Water" is a core addition to any
Judaic studies collection.

The Photography Shelf

Some things can't wait for a good picture. "Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography" discusses
flash photography with the Canon EOS, and its many features which can help would be
photographers get that instant picture they want. Covering every feature and technique one can
use with the equipment to make vivid and natural pictures, NK Guy gives full advice on
everything from preparation to doing it on the fly. "Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography" is
an insightful and very useful photography manual, enthusiastically recommended.

With its tri-lingual (English, German, French) captions, "Nature: Art And Structure" showcases
both a national panorama of natural phenomena and the German photographer Mara K.
Fuhrmann's impressive skills in capturing their images. From the tiny subject of a white
cottongrass blossom in a Netherlands wetland, to the UNESCO world heritage site Goreme
Valley landscape; to a two-page photograph of a gorge canyon in Provence, France, "Nature: Art
And Structure" is a truly impressive and memorable 215-page excursion of the beauty and
wonder and natural artistry of the flora and fauna that the forces of nature have sculpted
unassisted and unhindered by the hand of man. "Nature: Art And Structure" is highly
recommended for both personal and academic library Photography collections, and would make a
particularly excellent choice as a community library Memorial Fund acquisition.

Vivid underwater pictures have much that attracts viewers. "The Underwater Photographer" is
the third edition of Martin Edge's advisory guide as she hopes to get readers started in this
complex yet rewarding field. From suitable cameras for the job, the right filters, preparations for
shots, rookie starting advice, and more. Serving as both a how to guide and a quick reference for
veteran water photographers, Edge applies his work well, making "The Underwater
Photographer" an invaluable resource for the field.

The fourth updated edition of Martin Edge's THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER
(9780240521640, $39.95) offers a fully updated survey that represents a comprehensive revision
on everything from basic underwater photo techniques to specialized underwater shooting. It's
the only in-depth guide to underwater photography available, packs in over 500 images, and
covers everything from underwater composition and close-ups to using the wide angle lens
underwater. Any photography library needs this. Also recommended is the second updated
edition of Ctein's DIGITAL RESTORATION FROM START TO FINISH (9780240812083,
$39.95), an in-depth guide to repairing and restoring old and damaged photos. From scanning
faded prints to correcting uneven exposure and fixing color, this is packed with color screen
shots and examples throughout.

150 Projects to Strengthen Your Photography Skills offers over a hundred projects that teach
how to improve photography skills, with projects covering equipment, shooting details, and
technical specifications. From obtaining photography training and building a career to building
upon basic skills, this comes from a course leader of photojournalism and is packed with 'how to
do it better' advice perfect for college-level photography students.

The Political Science Shelf

Promises can prove hard to keep when the realities of power settle in. "A Presidency in Peril: The
Inside Story of Obama's Promise, Wall Street's Power, and the Struggle to Control Our Economic
Future" puts an eye onto the Obama Presidency as Robert Kuttner offers a through analysis of
Barack Obama's first year in office. Even handed, he's critical of Obama's failures but still shows
there is hope in his remaining years as the President settles into office. "A Presidency in Peril" is
an enlightening and riveting read sure to please.

The Music Shelf

Making Music with Sonar Home Studio is a fine pick showing how to use the Home Studio
program as a creative tool. It uses the program's owner's manual as a foundation for explaining
how to use the program, from optimizing a recording setup to composing and mixing down a
song. Step-by-step details are powerful in customization and options.

One of the biggest capitals of music in America got started due to a zoning law oversight. "House
of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/Sugarhill Recording Studios" tells the story of how
after the end of World War II, this small recording studio grew and became a juggernaut of
music, bringing many hits and musical legends, such as Willie Nelson, into the American lime
light. An in-depth history traces its history from the 1950s to the modern era where it sponsors
acts like Destiny's Child. "House of Hits" is a fascinating piece of Texan music history, highly
recommended. Also for Texan music fans is "Texas Tornado: The Times & Music of Doug
Sahm" (9780292721968, $24.95, www.utexaspress.com), a look at the career and early death of
Doug Sahm, a contemporary of Bob Dylan.

The Travel Shelf

THE SHIP HOTEL: A GRAND VIEW ALONG THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY covers the
highway's most famous attraction, blending vintage images with the author's own 'you are there'
style narrative to create a lively survey of bygone years. Color illustrations throughout and a
handy pocket format makes this a real winner.

Lonely Planet
150 Linden St., Oakland, CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com

Damien Simonis, et.al.'s ITALY (9781741792294, $25.99) is a take along tote 'must' for any
independent traveler planning a trip to the country. It offers history, cultural insights, tips on
where to go and how to travel, and keys to Italy's regional attractions and is written by experts
who provide a fully updated guide packed with honest, accurate advice. Over 170 maps and
full-color illustrations make for the traveler's reference of choice. China Williams, et.al.'s
SOUTHEAST ASIA ON A SHOESTRING (9781741792331, $26.99) is also a 'must' take-along
for any independent budget-minded traveler planning a trip to Southeast Asia. It covers
everything from sightseeing and shopping to current events, provides itineraries for easy travel,
and is a top reference packed with maps and specific detail. Similar in format and detail is Ryan
Ver Berkmoes' INDONESIA (9781741048308, $31.99), offering the same detailed itineraries,
updated information, maps and more on all areas of the vast Indonesian archipelago.
Another 'must take-along tote'. USA (9781741792355, $29.99) is a thick guide for a take-along
tote, but it packs in road trip coverage and custom itineraries, offers pull-out maps (over 146
maps total), and is filled with tested tips on travel across the country. History, culture and travel
specifics make this a top guide.

Moon's Belize provides a winning survey of sights, activities, and travel in Belize, packing in
over forty detailed maps and offering firsthand experience to document the best of Belize's
offerings. Packaged in a book small enough to become a take-along tote, this will appeal to any
library strong in South American travel destinations for independent travelers.

So much history is concentrated in the capital of the United Kingdom, that experiencing it all can
prove difficult. "England" is another guide from Insight Guides to best help travelers get the full
experience that comes with a trip to England, and its many attractions. Focusing on the
non-London attractions the country can offer, it presents much else one can experience outside
the city and the wonderful sights and natural beauty the country and its long history hold.
"England" is a choice and solidly recommended pick that shouldn't be missed for any prospective
traveler.

There's more to Italy than a bunch of gods and Spaghetti. "Speak the Culture: Italy" is a crash
course in Italian culture in Thorogood's Speak the Culture series, giving a deeper insight into the
substance of the Italian people than simply their language. From their historical icons to their
modern pop culture, "Speak the Culture" is an insightful read for anyone who wants a better
grasp of Italian culture or who wants to visit the country without the big glowing neon tourist
sign over their head.

The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Buddhism is, much like many world religions, male dominated. "Zen Women: Beyond Tea
Ladies, Iron Maidens, and Macho masters" is an exploration of women in regards to the Buddhist
faith. From early women who embraced Buddhism and how their adherence differed from the
men, the early nuns of Buddhism, and how the women of today follow the faith, "Zen Women" is
insightful and answers many questions, a top pick for any woman with an interest in Buddhism,
or anyone with a general interest in the philosophy.

The Money/Finance Shelf

Your Money: The Missing Manual joins others in the 'Missing Manual' references and should be
a part of any business or personal finance consumer's library. It covers all the basics, discussing
the best ways to get and reach financial goals, how to use credit wisely, how to get the most from
investments, and more. The result is a top all-around financial guide any consumer or student
will relish.

OBSESSIVE CONSUMPTION: WHAT DID YOU BUY TODAY provides a fun selection of
three years of the author's ink drawings of daily items accompanied by annotations, mocking her
relationship with her purchases and offering insights on mass-produced items. While its likely
audience will be art and drawing libraries, it shouldn't be missed by any general consumer
collection - and is reviewed here for recommendation to this audience, as well.

It's disheartening to buy something and have its value plummet. "House Investor's Manual:
Buying Rules: Ignored, Unknown, or Untold" is an investor's guide to successful buying on the
real estate market to avoid the poisoning purchases that lurk around every corner for the investor.
Lambert Munz gives solid advice on how to feast instead of famine, and anyone breaking into the
investment game should consider "House Investor's Manual."

The Automotive Shelf

Yenko: The Man, The Machines, The Legend follows the legendary cars Yenko designed:
projects that began with the Stinger Corvairs and ended with turbocharged Camaros and Vegas,
among others. His life and achievements provide a detailed examination of his cars, with facts
stemming from interviews with Yenko family members, former employees, and professional co
contemporaries. Auto buffs will relish this in-depth survey, packed with color photos
throughout.

Collector's Originality Guide: Corvette 1968-1982 provides a compendium of parts, finishes,
op0tions and trim pieces for all fourth-generation Corvette models, packing in details on restored
vehicles from 1968 to 1982 and collectible factors from signature markings to factory
identification plates. Recommended not just for auto collections, but for any library catering to
collectors overall.

The energy source of the future will not be fossil fuels, but what will it be? "Electric and Hybrid
Cars: A History" is the second edition of the history of cars under alternative fuel sources have
been making their way from fringe science to being accepted as the mainstream and an icon of
the environmentally conscious. Electric cars have been around for decades, and their promotion
has changed over the decades, and what the future holds. "Electric and Hybrid Cars" is a
fascinating look at the history of alternative cars, a top pick for any automotive history
collection.

The International Studies Shelf

One improves one's own government by looking around the world for new thoughts and ideas.
"The Constitution of Vietnam: A Contextual Analysis" analyzes how the constitution for
Vietnam has taken hold in the later half of the twentieth century. After World War II and through
the Cold War with many full blown wars throughout the past fifty years, it has led to many
revisions and changes, providing a unique model of administration. Covering its history decade
by decade, "The Constitution of Vietnam" proves to be a fascinating and very highly
recommended read, an ideal addition to any law or history collections.

The Parenting Shelf

The meaning of being a father has changed over the years. "Contemporary Fathering: Theory,
Policy, and Practice" is a guide to what it means to be a father in the twenty first century. The
value of a father has been discussed by many psychologists and Brid Featherstone does well in
outlining the many thoughts and details that surround the father, and uses a feminist perspective
that highlights why the father is still important in today's era of single parents. "Contemporary
Fathering" is a strong pick with many thoughtful ideas for readers, highly recommended.

The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World's Top Climate
Scientists offers a simple explanation for why forecasts of a global warming Armageddon
represent a major scientific blunder. Climate researchers have mixed up cause and effect in their
analysis of cloud behavior - and Dr. Spencer exposes the political and financial biases that have
influenced climate research. Any library strong in global warming issues needs this different
analysis and approach.

CLIMATEGATE: A VETERAN METEOROLOGIST EXPOSES THE GLOBAL WARMING
SCAM comes from a former meteorologist turned talk show host and offers a range of stories to
link modern environmental leaders to communists and faulty thinking. From past climate records
that show climate was warmer than it is today to the assessment that global warming is a
convenient theory allowing companies to reap billions, this offers an attack on the entire global
warming concept - and analyzes reasons behind its ideas.

The world is more rapidly changing now than ever before. "Beyond Naturalness: Rethinking Park
and Wilderness Stewardship in an Era of Rapid Change" is an analysis of the current park
systems of the United States and how they could stand to be updated in today's world of high
technology and new and rising threats to the natural world. With chapters on climate change,
understanding it in regards to parks, and much more, "Beyond Naturalness" is a fine resource for
anyone concerned with the status of today's natural parks throughout the world.

The Language Studies Shelf

The lexicon expands throughout history, but few know the stories behind the words. "Word
Catcher: An Odyssey Into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words" delves into the English
language and tries to find the history behind the names and common phrases we udder every day
and how they came to be. From countries being founded on utterances, to the interbreeding with
other languages that impact the world over, Phil Consuineau brings readers quite the riveting and
fun read. "Word Catcher" is a solid addition to any trivia collection.

The Psychology Shelf

Zen and Psychotherapy: Partners in Liberation offers a strong survey on the transformative
experience in psychotherapy. While Zen and psychotherapy are quite different paths and
approaches, and have even had an adversarial relationship in the past, they share the common
qualities of being a journey and process of inquiry, valuing truth and awareness. The dynamics of
both are explored in a fine survey of emotional and spiritual development and shows how both
can change our lives.

My Brain Made Me Do It: The Rise of Neuroscience and the Threat to Moral Responsibility
draws important connections between brain science and issues of responsibility and morality,
examining how the brain affects the exercise of will, how Parkinson's and other diseases reveal
keys about controlling our actions, and how the evolution of brain chemistry has affected choices
and actions overall. A top pick for any college-level health, science or social issues
collection.

The fourth updated edition of AP Psychology is a 'must' study guide offering the latest practice
tests available, study tips, and strategies covering various research methods. Two more practice
tests with answers and explanations appear on an accompanying CD-ROM, making for a key
student's study guide perfect for any high school collection.

Once driven, determined, the next subdued and melancholy. "Welcome to the Jungle: Everything
You Ever Wanted to Know About Bipolar But Were Too Freaked Out to Ask" is a guide for
non-sufferers who want to best understand bipolar disorder and the baggage and challenges that
come along with it. Hilary Smith presents thoughts and answers to even help those faced with the
disorder but are unsure of the effects of their medication, insurance woes, and much more.
"Welcome to the Jungle" is a powerful resource, not to be missed.

The Computer Shelf

Web 2.0 and Social Networking for the Enterprise: Guidelines and Examples for Implementation
and Management Within Your Organization provides a winning survey connecting social
networking approaches with proven techniques for increasing productivity. New case studies
from IBM and many of its social networking sites accompany insights covering different
technologies ranging from AJAX and REST to tagging and portals. The result's a fine coverage
any social networking computer or business library needs.

Bruce Powel Douglass's Real-Time Agility: The Harmony-ESW Method for Real-Time and
Embedded Systems Development (0321545494, $54.99) comes from a leading
embedded-systems consult who covers model-driven development and agile methods, analyzing
plans, requirements, and three levels of agile design processes. Examples pack a survey that can
serve as a tutorial as well as a developer's reference guide. B.V. Kumar, Prakash Narajyan and
Tony Ng's IMPLEMENTING SOA USING JAVA EE (0321492153, $54.99) is for any library
offering Java programmers keys to success, and covers SOA development ranging from
messaging and registries to using Java persistence API and implementing SOA at all web and
business processes. The result is an outstanding read perfect for any programming collection.
Roman Pichler's AGILE PRODUCT MANAGEMENT WITH SCRUM: CREATING
PRODUCTS THAT CUSTOMERS LOVE (0321605780, $34.99) offers the first guide to
Scrum-based agile product management and comes from a leading Scrum consultant who uses
real-world examples to show how product owners can use Scrum to maximum benefit. From
understanding the product and planning its release to understanding sprint meetings and
ownership issues, this is a fine pick for Agile and project management collections alike.
Technical college-level collections strong in advanced computer and business topics will relish
Eileen C. Forrester, Brndon L. Buteau and Sandy Shrum's CMMI FOR SERVICES:
GUIDELINES FOR SUPERIOR SERVICE (0321635892, $69.99), a fine survey discussing
guidelines that can help organizations establish and improve processes for delivering services.
From the basic concept of CMMI-SVC to general and specific practices and useful references,
it's a survey no library should be without.

HEAD FIRST EXCEL by Michael Milton (9780596807696, $34.99) offers a winning survey that
uses the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to provide a content-rich, visual
approach to learning Excel. From making basic calculations key to any workflow to handling
worksheets and pivot table analysis, this is a brain-friendly guide Excel users will relish.
Jonathan Stark's BUILDING IPHONE APPS WITH HTML, CSS, AND JAVASCRIPT
(9780596805784, $29.99) offers a fine survey of mobile development tools and open source web
technologies that can design and build apps for the iPhone and iPod touch without using Cocoa
or Objective-C. Learn how to use various tricks to hook into advanced iPhone features with this
fine programmer's guide. Kevlin Henney edits 97 THINGS EVERY PROGRAMMER SHOULD
KNOW (9780596809485, $29.99), a fine survey of basic programming 'musts' with contributors
from across the board in the industry - from Verity Stob to Michael Feathers and more. All kinds
of projects and concerns are addressed, from using code in domain language to keeping the build
clean and including tools for static code analysis in a project's framework. Alasdair Allan's
LEARNING IPHONE PROGRAMMING (9780596806439, $29.99) offers fine keys to building
sample applications using Xcode tools and the Objective-C programming language. From
building a data-entry interface and storing data to understanding hoc distribution, this presents a
fine key for any iPhone programmer.

Terence Parr's LANGUAGE IMPLEMENTATION PATTERNS: CREATE YOUR OWN
DOMAIN-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES (9781934356456,
$34.95) tells how to build file readers, data readers, code generators and more - without a strong
computer science background. The author offers insights into common design patterns key to
development for Java and other programmers, creating a guide that isn't language-specific, but
pattern-oriented. Any programmer's library needs this. Also highly recommended is Tim Isted's
BEGINNING MAC PROGRAMMING: DEVELOP WITH OBJECTIVE-C AND COCOA
(9781934356517, $34.95), which shows beginners how to write software for the iphone, ipod,
ipad and Mac applications. A basic knowledge of these systems is required, but no programming
background: guides to free software, tools, and more lets developers and basic Mac programmers
learn the basics quickly.

Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture: Contemporary Techniques and Tools for Digital
Representation in Site Design provides architecture and landscape workers with principles of
analog representation and how they cross over to digital techniques. From comparisons between
analog and digital rendering to computing basics, using hand-drawn linework and perspective
drawings, and more, this packs in over 500 color drawings and photos to illustrate proven
techniques for architecture and computer collections alike.

Wes McDermott's REAL WORLD MODO: IN THE TRENCHES WITH MONDO (9780240811994, $49.95) is a top pick for any college-level graphics library. It explores the 3D tool, offering an artist-friendly survey of Modo's tools and 3D rendering engine and providing clear tips and tricks for its use. Digital artists will find this key to using Modo 401's power and many benefits, with plenty of visuals to reinforce learning. A top pick for any seeking a definitive Modo coverage. Eric Luhta's HOW TO CHEAT IN MAYA 2010: TOOLS AND
TECHNIQUES FOR THE MAYA ANIMATOR (9780240811888, $44.95) comes with a companion DVD with animated
examples and scene files and is packed with classic animation secrets from pros. From tools to
streamline the process to working with Maya to obtain quality results, this documents which
circumstances call for specific techniques and is a pick for any Maya user. A similar format is
presented in Chris Georgenes' fine HOW TO CHEAT IN ADOBE FLASH CS4
(9780240521312, $39.95), providing an animator's inside tips on how to work from problem to
solution in Flash. Secrets used by pros to produce professional results lend to a fine book and CD
package teaching a range of tricks.

Any who want to learn how to implement and apply advanced web analytics techniques will
welcome the second updated edition of Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics. It offers a
new edition pairing best practices for a web metrics program with insights on how to optimize
website performance and learn from AdWords, AdSense, and more. From blending Google
Analytics data with third-party systems to using new Google features, Google users will find this
a winner.

Presenting it in a simplistic and easy to use way, map data can deliver facts quickly and
efficiently. "Lining Up Data in ArcGIS: A Guide to Map Projections" is a guide to understanding
the program ArcGIS and what it can do for making the maps one needs. With step by step
instructions assisted by full color photographs and diagrams, Margaret M. Maher presents a
complete and comprehensive guide to help users of the program master it. "Lining Up Data in
ArcGIS" is a top pick for any computer and technology collection focusing on data
programs.

The Architecture Shelf

GREEN RESTORATION: SUSTAINABLE BUILDING AND HISTORIC HOMES offers the
author's expertise as a restoration contractor and preservation consultant, providing builders and
homeowners alike with a fine guide to restoring historic buildings using green practices.
Room-by-room restoration descriptions offer solutions for all kinds of issues from sealing an old
crawl space to replacing windows. This will be a key guide for any library strong in home
renovations.

In 1923 Lilian J. Rice was provided the opportunity to design and develop Rancho Santa Fe -- a
planned upper-class Southern California community. She was so successful that it launched her
architectural career designed and building homes for some of the best known entertainers and
movie stars of the era. "Lilian J. Rice: Architect of Rancho Santa Fe, California" by biographer
and historian Diane Y. Welch is a 224-page beautifully illustrated compendium showcasing the
architectural accomplishments of a truly gifted architect with an impressive roster of discerning
patrons. Profusely illustrated with 394 captioned illustrations, "Lilian J. Rice: Architect of
Rancho Santa Fe, California" includes floor plans, architectural renderings, and superbly
reproduced full color photography. Informed and informative, "Lilian J. Rice: Architect of
Rancho Santa Fe, California" is a fitting and highly recommended addition to professional,
academic, and community library American Architectural History reference collections and
supplemental reading lists.

The Large Print Shelf

Classic Max Brand adventure yarns set in the Old West, "Rifle Pass: A Western Trio" showcases
three of his best short stories this large print edition. 'Nighthawk Trail' features one of the most
dangerous men in the west in his search to find the great horse Nighthawk. 'The Vamp's Bandit'
has rowdy ranch hand Bob Nelson graduating to stage holdup's and being wanted by the law.
'Rifle Pass' has an aging sheriff trying to get his shiftless son to prove himself by appointing the
young man a deputy and sending him after the outlaw Harry Sanford. Roaring good reads, all
three of these short stories are gems of western adventure, making "Rifle Pass: A Western Trio"
an ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition to community library Large Print fiction
collections. Also very highly recommended for these collections are two new westerns from
Sagebrush: Ray Hogan's "The Searching Guns" (9780753185094, $28.64) and Francis W.
Hilton's "The Long Rope" (9780753185100, $27.99).

The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Simpsons Futurama: Crossover Crisis is a Simpsons comic guide any collector simply must
have. It's not just that full-color cartoon drawings pack the book, or that it blends two very
different shows - The Simpsons and Futurama - but it provides a fine series of interactions and
concludes with a first-edition collectible comic book in the back pocket. Packed in a gorgeous
full-color slipcase, it's a collector's winner.

Sal Buscema: Comics' Fast & Furious Artist provides a fine review of a Marvel Comics artist
who became one of the most recognized artists of the comic world. He created some of Marvel's
most memorable storylines and had a ten-year run with The Incredible Hulk: his creations
cemented some of the most famous runs of the comic universe and here black and white and
color panels compliment many Buscema insights, key to any serious comic collector's shelf.

The collaborative work of author Andrew McGinn and illustrator David Neitzke, "The Legacy" is
the story of a young man of artistic talent being saddled with the unwanted responsibility of
continuing his successful cartoonist father's newspaper comic strip, thwarting his own ambitions
of being a graphic novelist. A rollicking good read from beginning to end, "The Legacy" is
thoroughly entertaining and carries an all to familiar message of what happens when parental
expectations are foisted upon a most reluctant 'next generation'. Highly recommended for both
personal and community library graphic novel collections, "The Legacy" is witty, poignant, and a
terrific read!

The Sports Shelf

HIGH HEAT: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE FAST BALL AND THE IMPROBABLE
SEARCH FOR THE FASTEST PITCHER OF ALL TIME moves from the records of the
National Baseball Hall of Fame in New York to a lab in Alabama, analyzing the nature of the
fastball in its scientific form and in the sport of baseball. How can one determine what makes the
fastest fast ball? HIGH HEAT interviews Hall of Fame names and baseball greats alike as it
surveys pitching stars and their influence on the history and nature of baseball. Any sports library
will relish this.

Fifty-Nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball and the Greatest Season a Pitcher
Ever Had comes from a Pulitzer Prize finalist and tells of pitcher Charles Radbourn's 1884
season, when he set a record that would never be broken. His biography blends with a history of
baseball in the late 19th century and the culture of ill repute it fostered, with its image as a
profession of hard-drinking men who cheated and would maim an opponent to win the game.
Any baseball library needs this history.

Gold Medal Physics: The Science of Sports offers a fine, satisfying blend of science and sports
perfect for any library strong in athletics. It analyzes the science behind soccer, cycling, skating,
diving and many other competitive sports, using key players in the fields to explain the basic
physics behind everyday athletic achievement. Sports libraries will find this engrossing.

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Murder, She Wrote: Nashville Noir is based on the TV series and provides a fine new book in a
mystery series. Here music and murder clash when a country music publisher is murdered by a
young talent, and Jessica is called upon to help a daughter in trouble. A fine mystery evolves,
perfect for any general lending library.

The Literary Shelf

Writers on the Spectrum is for any college-level library strong in literary analysis. It shows how
the writings of some of the world's most celebrated authors indicate signs of autism and Asperger
Syndrome, considering structure, content and writing style in its exploration of an autistic
perception of life. A range of writers are considered in an analysis identifying signs of autistic
perceptions of life and themes of alienation, making this an outstanding presentation for any
literary collection.

The Women's Studies Shelf

Just Don't Call Me Ma'am tells of the author, a southern gal who left Texas in search of a new
life, and finds life changes in different parts of the country. Her account of being a
twenty-something in search of change offers cultural and social insights as well, making for a
humorous, honest and moving story.

Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration gathers the stories of over twenty women who reveal
the influences on their artistic processes and provide color photos of their work spaces. From
painting elements from nature to a textile designer's colors, this packs in lovely surveys of
creative environments conducive to change.

FEMINIST BIOETHICS: AT THE CENTER, ON THE MARGINS is a powerful college-level
consideration of medical ethics perfect for both health and women's studies libraries. It considers
the place of feminist bioethics in the international bioethics community, offering an analysis of
the current state and trends of feminist bioethics and how different types of feminism can inform
and strengthen feminist bioethics. From cancer genetics to rape and prenatal selection, feminist
bioethical thought is covered both philosophically and medically.

The Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-aholic offers a
funny first book by an actress who explores the modern challenges of dating and provides a host
of practical tips, from how to text flirt to how to breakup and recover. Insights on what men and
women really want and need accompany the humor and serious examination: perfect for any
general or women's studies library.

WORK IT! VISUAL THERAPY'S GUIDE TO YOUR ULTIMATE CAREER WARDROBE
comes from two stylists who have spent years revamping wardrobes and showing women how to
look good. This focus is on business attire and covers all the basics, from determining individual
work personality to establishing career goals and customizing a wardrobe to meet them. Any
business or women's issues library needs this.

The Nautical Shelf

Seas and Waterways of the World: An Encyclopedia of History, Uses and Issues appears in a fine
two-volume set packing in over a hundred entries, organized alphabetically with 3 sections and
coming from nearly fifty contributors who are experts in water-based commerce and economics.
From important events in nautical history to photos, maps and more, this pairs primary source
documents with key reference facts in a title perfect for college-level nautical history
libraries.

AFTER THE BOUNTY: A SAILOR'S ACCOUNT OF THE MUTINY AND LIFE IN THE
SOUTH SEAS provides a winning survey of the famous Bounty's voyage by fellow mutineer
James Morrison, boatswain's mate, and follows his journeys through the South Seas. His stories
of adventures after the Bounty mutiny makes for a powerful historical journal packed with
nautical adventure and perfect for any nautical history library.

AFLOAT ON THE TIDE: WOODEN DINGHIES, PRAMS, SKIFFS AND OTHER
ROWBOATS is an outstanding pick for any interested in small boat craftsmanship. The author's
been photographing small rowboats of the Atlantic Coast for a decade and here provides a fine
collection of color photos reflecting the journey of the small wooden craft. Small boat fans will
find this a real winner and a top pick for any nautical history collection.